Working in partnership with a business isn’t a simple proposition. While it’d be wonderful if every company could trust each other from the off, the truth is that the business world is cutthroat.
In many ways, businesses are like countries. Each has needs that only other partners (who would be their enemies under any other circumstance) can fulfill. If they want to continue thriving and moving to the next stage in their development, then the only solution is to develop a relationship with that company. While the relationship may falter from time to time, in an ideal world it’s a symbiotic scenario that momentarily brings corporate peace.
However, some companies don’t play nice. They’ll search for easy ways out of a deal and stab you in the back like a Game of Thrones character turned real.
These are the facts of life, alas, and they can’t be avoided. You’re gambling when you partner up with a different company, and every signature on the dotted line is nothing more than a spin of a wheel.
Not everyone is a shyster. In fact, most people aren’t. And today we’re going to find out a few of the ways you can find out if a company is kosher.
Take a look and gain some trust.
Check out their site
A website should be the first port of call for any company exec doing some research. It’ll tell you the major players of the company you’re partnering up with, their USP, the brand personality and their general ethos.
You’ll find out all that on a site – if it’s well designed.
One of our favorites is a site from CJ Connally, an electrical engineering company based in Huddersfield. It’s loaded with information but in a readable and simple-to-understand manner. Take a look at the site if you want a prime example of how to convey trust to a potential business partner.
Check out reviews
Customer reviews are easier to get hold of than ever, with TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and a huge number of trade-specific review sites allowing customers to air their views.
This won’t be much use if the company in question is new, and tales abound of dodgy businesses paying for good reviews, but in general, this is an effective way to gauge opinions.
Set up a meeting
Face to face contact with a company is still the best way to build trust and figure out if you want to work with someone. No matter their sales spiel or their charisma, it’s not difficult to get the measure of a person by the way they conduct themselves in a meeting.
Make a checklist of what you hope to find out during your meeting. If you’re still not sure once the meeting’s done, you can show them the door.
That’s our list! How do you create trust with your business partners? Let us know in the comments below!
