Think about your daily life. Would you want to be friends with someone you don't trust at all? Probably not. This is why trustworthiness is important in business. Do you want to build a strong relationship with your customers? Social media is your way to start.

Pay attention to people and their opinions about your brand. What they enjoy, what they find boring, and what does absolutely nothing for them. From their feedback, you will be able to understand them better, and get plenty of ideas for improvement and inspiration for more relevant social material. 

The more you speak their language, the more they relate. The more they relate, the more they feel understood and valued. 

What's your audience about? What do they want? What do they like? When you provide interesting, helpful, and valuable content for people, they give back to you sooner or later, in the short term or long term.

Let's check some ideas for building trust as a business through social media:

1. User Generated Content

Share it, post it, retweet it, love it, embrace it! Take it as a visual and powerful review of your product or service. Let's say you bake cakes– someone tags you on their birthday photo, and people are happy and enjoying your cake's incredible taste! How can you not share that on your business page? People must see these things when they happen. 

It's important to incorporate your products into daily usage to make it easier for people to imagine themselves using them. 

User-generated content (organic or through a collaboration) gives you this. Take advantage of it!  (Make sure to ask for permission first and/or tag back the person who tagged you in the first place. We're human here, first.)

You can generate user content by asking people what you should do next with your business. You can use many easy tools and accept their votes and opinions on several subjects. Should you redecorate your restaurant in a rustic manner or an industrial one? Should you add fried chicken to your menu or not? Should you get a parrot mascot or a bear one? It can be ANYTHING, as long as you stick with their pick. 

Another way to get excellent ideas from your followers is to simply ask for them. People are more creative than they seem and like to feel they are contributing to a brand they love. 

Make sure you reward their effort.

2. Be Transparent

People like to be informed, know how their products are made, what the production process affects, whether they are tested on animals, whether the product is eco-friendly, etc. You should add as much info about your brand as possible. Lacking details on your activity can raise many questions. Show real photos, write detailed product descriptions, make a demo video, or do anything that can make people better understand what they will receive.  Make it clear that you make refunds, have certain guarantees, and always respect what you promise. 

3. How Fast Do You Reply?

In these rapid times, where you can order food in less than 3 minutes and start eating it in less than 30, of course, people expect you to answer their comments, messages, reviews, and complaints in a short amount of time. 

When you reply in a friendly and helpful manner within 30 minutes to 1 hour, even if they are complaining about something, your customers will feel seen, acknowledged, and like they matter. They see their case as closely given attention and being solved in some way or another.  Also, when other people see how you handle negative public reviews and make everything work, they know things will be good no matter what.

Studies show that a late or no reply will most likely generate negative customer behavior: less engagement on their part, fewer purchases, and negative reviews, both online and offline, to friends and family. People don't want to wait, be put on hold, or deal with more than enough. They can easily buy from another brand willing to talk almost live with them.

You want people to know they can always come to you with anything. 

Quick replies let them know you are THERE. 

4. Be Human, Be Real

You don't always have to use perfect text and perfect creativity. Social media is part of our lives, and I don't remember it being perfect either. I bet your followers also have "less perfect" days, so don't be afraid to be a little vulnerable yourself; people don't always have to smile in your posts, not everything should always be in place, and your desk can be messy. 

People like to know there are real humans behind the brands they love. Personalize each and every conversation with your audience; use first names and everything. Be close, and show that you care and value them. 

5. Keep It Clear and Neat

If you're producing furniture, don't post about spaghetti, spinach, and apples. You're trying to keep a constant and consistent voice about your products and services. Make it easy for people to comprehend and acknowledge what you do, how you do it, why you do it, and at what cost (which shouldn't vary too much if you're not running a legal campaign with a start date and end date)

The same goes for your views on general subjects. If you believe in saving the environment, try building your activity in such a manner that it meets that statement. You can't, for example, constantly praise "protect nature" while everything your company creates uses too much single-use plastic. 

Inconsistencies can lead people to second-guess your behavior, which, sure, can't be really beneficial. 

Social media is a great way to build stronger connections with your followers.  Which way is the most suitable for your customers at this time?