Sharon Koehler

Artistic Stone Design

The BBB has been around since 1912, but the organization has also progressed with the times and kept up with technology that can help you.

The BBB has been around since 1912, but the organization has also progressed with the times and kept up with technology that can help you.
The BBB has been around since 1912, but the organization has also progressed with the times and kept up with technology that can help you.

Let’s face it; we all struggle for market share. We want to keep our businesses growing and making money. We want to keep our employees working and providing for their families. In an effort to do so, we spread ourselves pretty thin in the marketing/social media/advertising game. Houzz, Facebook, Pintrest, Google+, AdWords, radio, TV and the list goes on and on. Or maybe you don’t have the time or the manpower to do all these things. Then again, maybe you think that all this social media and advertising is just a bunch of hooey! (And I wouldn’t blame you.)

Granted the list is long, but there is an often overlooked asset at your disposal and you probably already belong to this organization. It’s the Better Business Bureau (the BBB). While you may view the BBB as a bit “OLD” (they were founded in 1912), the expression “Everything old is new again” applies here. The BBB has come a long way in helping companies and consumers alike. In 2015 there were over 161 MILLION inquiries by consumers to the BBB looking for help in hiring good, trustworthy companies. Yes, that’s 161 MILLION inquiries! 

Yes, you do pay dues to the BBB, but don’t just pay your dues, get your decal(s) and walk away. You are leaving a lot on the table. They do a lot in today’s world to help businesses thrive and be successful. They have a scam tracker program that tracks potential scams around the country. They have dispute resolution classes and automobile dispute (lemon law) departments. They have speakers that will come out and speak at functions. They will mediate between you and a disgruntled customer. They have a very informative monthly newsletter.  The list goes on and on.

 Did you know that the BBB holds classes rather frequently on pertinent business matters? They do! I received an invitation to a class that will discuss the new labor laws that went into effect in September. I have also gotten invitations to Quickbooks classes for beginners and advanced users, and social media classes also. There have been many other topics as well. They are trying to help, offering tools that businesses in the 21st century can use.

Did you know that the BBB has contests from time to time? They do! Last year I won an online contest they held. I wasn’t the only one. The first five companies to correctly complete the contest tasks won two baseball tickets to go watch our local team. The seats were good, and fun was had by all. (And to top it all off, our team won.)

Did you know the BBB holds specific networking events? They do! They regularly hold networking events around town and this year my BBB held a networking event at that same baseball stadium. You go, you eat, you drink and be merry all the while promoting your business to other businesses in your area. Be sure to bring your business cards and your “elevator speech”. Networking can be fun!

Did you know that the BBB accepts online reviews? They do! This actually puts them on the same level as Google+, Angie’s List, Houzz, Yelp and so many other review sites. Your customers can review you, and other potential customers can read and evaluate those reviews. You can even leave a response just like other review sites. The BBB will even give you cards to mail to your customers to help you get reviews.

Did you know that if you belong to the BBB you get your own little mini website? (or profile, as they call it) You do! This is a great perk when you join. This page will contain all your business info such as address, phone number and type of business. There is also a spot for videos and up to 20 pictures of jobs you have done. You can get a “Request a quote link” and a link to your website, as well (if you have one). Your customer reviews go here as well. Sounds like a website to me. If you are a small company, or just starting out and maybe you don’t yet have a lot of capital built up, this may be the perfect starting point for you. 

Better yet, did you know that the BBB will send you a monthly statistics report on your site? Yes, they do that too! Granted, it is not quite as detailed as the one for Google+, it is none the less VERY informative.  It contains information on review visits and profile traffic. It will tell you about your profile traffic for the last 12 months, traffic details such as search engines and keyword use. They will tell you what areas your profile lookers live in and what sort of device they are using i.e. desktop, tablet, mobile phone, etc.  All this is great information, AND if you have any trouble understanding anything or doing anything, they are more than happy to help you. 

For example, this morning I wanted to replace a couple of the photos on our BBB profile and for the life of me I could not figure out how to delete two of the photos already there. I contacted them via e mail and explained my problem to them. In an hour I had an answer back. All I had to do was send them what I wanted deleted, and they took care of it for me. It doesn’t get any easier than that. 

Now in all fairness, they don’t recommend or endorse businesses. However, they make it very easy for the consumer to see what you do and how good you are at it. That A+ rating you have with them carries a lot of weight with potential customers.

The BBB has spent over a century living up to their motto, “Start with Trust,” so…trust them. You won’t regret it.

Sharon Koehler is a 10-year veteran of the stone industry and currently head of marketing for Artistic Stone Design in Richmond, Virginia. She has been a regular contributor to various trade magazines for several years. Please send your thoughts on this article to sharon@artisticstonerichmond.com.