The Better Business Bureau is celebrating Small Business Week by launching a new website for small businesses at BBB.org/SmallBusiness and offering free programs for business owners and managers.
A new survey by BBB found that 84% of consumers trust small businesses most. Respondents cited their reasons as supporting local businesses (60%), convenience (30%), better customer service (27%), and unique items unavailable elsewhere (24%).
Small Business Week (April 29-May 5) honors the nearly 29 million small businesses in the U.S. that employ nearly 57 million people; almost half of the private workforce. Although Small Business Week is a U.S. celebration, the new BBB website includes information for all businesses across North America and beyond. Also this week, BBB is hosting free Trust Talks on its groundbreaking research into the “5 Gestures of Trust: Trust and the Customer Service Experience” to help good businesses stand out with customers.
The free webinars, which require pre-registration, will be held:
Thursday, May 3, from 2-3 p.m. EDT
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4302834691867277827
Small Business Week also marks the debut of a new e-learning tool for BBB Accredited Business, BBBedu. All business owners and entrepreneurs can sample the first module on the topic of how customer reviews impact a business’s reputation with potential customers. To access the free program, go to BBB.org/SmallBusiness and click on “Free Online Course.”
The website also links to BBB’s research into marketplace trust, cybersecurity, and other topics of importance to business owners; links to BBB’s standards for business practices and standards; a calendar of events for businesses; and publications such as the magazine TRUSTED and the Better Business podcast series, all available for free.
