There’s no denying it… If you want to be a successful business owner, you have to build the KLT Factor.
But Rachel, what’s the KLT Factor?
Well, my friend! I’m glad you asked.
KLT stands for Know, Like, and Trust.
It basically represents that journey that you have to take people on as they engage with your brand. First, they’re in that discovery phase where they’re just getting to know you, then they start liking you and maybe even become obsessed by binging on your content, and then they start trusting you and supporting you.
That final factor, trust, is so important. Without it, you can’t expect to land clients or customers. Because people simply don’t do business with those they don’t trust.
Now, I know what you’re thinking… That’s great and all, but I how do I build the Know, Like, and Trust factor? That’s what we’re here to talk about today.
Building the Know, Like, and Trust Factor
Building the KLT Factor doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It’s just about taking the right action at every stage of your customer’s journey. And once you know what the right action is, you’ve got this thing locked! Here’s what you need to know:
Help Your Audience Get to Know You
The foundation of the Know, Like, and Trust Factor is allowing your audience to get to know you. Without this, you cannot move onto the next levels. Think about the “Know” stage as the foundation and the “Like” and “Trust” stages as the first and second story of this business-building house.
When it comes to your business, people want to be able to put a face to your name. They want to see who is behind the brand and what that person is like. That’s why it’s so important to step in front of the camera and let your personality shine through. Don’t hide behind a logo.
So, how can you help people get to know you better? Try these tips:
- Be active on social media. This is your place to be yourself, have conversations, and make new connections. Obviously, that means it’s perfect for helping people get to know you! One opportunity you absolutely need to take advantage of is Instagram Stories. It’s a way to provide a glimpse into your day, giving people the behind-the-scenes into your business. They’re finally able to see the person behind the blog posts. (If you don’t know what to post there, I have some great content ideas for Instagram Stories.)
- Incorporate video content. Before you write off this suggestion, saying you despise video content and could never shine on camera… Video is an amazing way for people to get to know you. They see your personality come through on the screen. It’s like they’re sitting in the room with you and that’s pretty powerful! But if you’re feeling a little camera shy, my friend Trena Little has some tips to help you overcome it!
- Share your story. Let people get to know you on a much deeper level by opening up. Let them know what you’ve been through and what’s going on. Share your journey with them and bring them along for the ride. That kind of vulnerability resonates with people, especially those that have been in your shoes.
Getting Your Audience to Like You
Now, here’s the thing… You can have personality all over your brand and inject it into everything you do. But that doesn’t mean people are going to like you. You are always going to repel certain people, but don’t worry about them. It’s more important that you focus on attracting the right people.
To do that, think about who your target audience is. What would they be drawn to? What’s going to make them fall in love with your brand? Allow that to shape the personality that shines through, while still keeping it aligned with your true self.
To be more likable, keep these tips in mind:
- Be yourself. It’s cliché advice, but still very important. You have to be yourself because people will see right through you if you’re not being genuine.
- Communicate with your audience. An essential step in building the Know, Like, and Trust Factor is to communicate with your audience. You have to build a relationship with them to solidify that BFF status. Have conversations in your blog comments, through email, and on social media. Get to know them and allow them to get to know you.
- Provide great customer service when needed. Treating your customers poorly is going to get your business going downhill fast. Whenever you need to help a customer, do so with the utmost respect and kindness. Commit to solving their problems and delivering great service every time. Don’t be afraid to go the extra mile either.
Establishing a Level of Trust
As I mentioned before, trust is a key part of the puzzle here. Without trust, you can’t expect to make sales and earn those clients you want to work with. Think about it… Are you likely to support a brand that you don’t trust? Probably not!
And as a business owner, you need to destroy any obstacle that stands in the way of your customer buying your offering. When they have trust in you, they’ll be more inclined to take that next step. The monetary step that keeps your business flowing.
How do you build trust, you ask? Here are some suggestions:
- Provide value every time. It should really go without saying, but you need to make sure you’re always providing value to your audience. Your blog posts, YouTube videos, podcast episodes, email newsletters, and social media posts should be oozing with value. Oh, and make sure you’re giving away some of the good stuff for free. A great email opt-in goes a long way, my friend!
- Deliver on your promises. Don’t let people down, period. If you promise something, deliver it. In fact, over deliver. Make it clear that you’re here to please your audience.
- Position yourself as an authority. When people see that you know your stuff, it shows your authority within your field. That helps build the Know, Like, and Trust Factor because people can count on you to deliver the best and know what you’re talking about.