The Trusted directories were set up based upon the principals of good business, and the foundation of good business is integrity. Simply put, if you don't care about your customers needs as a business then you will never be trusted.

When Sara the Trusted founder came up with the ' Trusted directories concept '  she wanted to have clear, simple guildlines or ' guarantees' laid out for all to see , and she knew it was important for the Trusted partners to sign contracts to uphold those guarantees (and for the partners to be held to them by Trusted).  

The Trusted Guarantees

1.Provide the service and quality promised.

2.Complete the job on time.

3.Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.

4.Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.

5.Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.

All 5 of these guarantees are important ..but the one that can raise a business from average to exceptional is number 5 ...you see it's easy to do business when everything go's to plan ..it's when something go's wrong that a business can truly shine ( or not)...who they deal with upset or angry customers shows how much they are invested in providing the best customer service...especially if the problem was not caused by anything they did! 

We received the following un solicited comment through the the Saskatoon directory recently, from a customer of TRX RV a Trusted Saskatoon RV dealer  and it really proves their worthiness as a Trusted saskatoon business, and we wanted to share it with you!

" We purchased a trailer in 2011 from TRX and while we liked it we found it did not fit our needs. We went back to TRX in 2012 (after researching a multitude of trailers and dealers) and decided to go with a larger version of the same trailer. To our dismay this particular trailer seemed to be plagued with a multitude of major issues, which in spite of the best efforts of the TRX team, were not resolved. We dealt with Tom regarding our frustrations and were pleased with the approach he took with us, and on our behalf, with the manufacturer. While the manufacturer didn’t offer TRX the help or resolution they needed Tom resolved our problems with a satisfactory and equitable solution. Throughout this process, TRX (Tom and his staff) went above and beyond to help us out. We would like to thank the TRX team for their excellent customer service and highly recommend TRX. "

Kudos to the TRX RV Team for the way they handled this issue and thumbs up from the Trusted team! 

Original post by Saskatoon Directory Trusted saskatoon.com

S & E Trusted Online Directories founder shares a business tip with small businesses in Saskatoon and beyond. How to do advertising effectively and why to advertise period!

S & E Trusted Online Directories was a  finalist for Marketing for the prestigious Saskatchewan Chamber of commerce ABEX Awards 2012, and it was their innovative marketing strategies they use to advertise www.trustedsaskatoon.com and www.trustedregina.com  that saw them recognized across the province after less than 18months in business.  

The Trusted group of  local directories www.trustedsaskatoon.com and www.trustedregina.com really are the smart and simple choice.

So what is Sara Wheelwrights, our founders background?

Here she shares some of her story and some big goals!  

" I've been immersed in the wonderful world of marketing, advertising and business since 1992. I persuaded business owners to buy Yellow pages, Internet, Pharmaceuticals and Radio over the years, very succesfully, before I decided to take the leap and start my own marketing/ advertising company. I founded S & E Trusted Online Directories in 2011 after thinking about the idea for years.

At Trusted we ONLY promote and do business with trustworthy locally accountable businesses. I am confident that before I created the Trusted concept, that these wonderful local businesses had no where to turn to in the advertising world that really understood how great they are, and truly valued the really important qualities of honesty amd integrity above the endless quest for MORE SALES and advertising revenue.

My primary goal is to ensure that all the Trusted partners are well represented by my Trusted team, and that the public in the cities we service are informed about and directed to Trusted businesses as the preferred choice! My company communicates daily to the public via many platforms and we help them understand why and how the TRUSTED businesses stand apart from their local competition by being Trusted. We commit to always assisting the public in the cities we serve, by providing quick and easy access to great retail and service providers.

I aim to take Trusted nationwide within 3 years, I never think small it would be a disservice to my 3 children, my supporters, my clients and to the concept of  'being' Trusted  "

Sara Wheelwright

S & E Trusted Onlines Directories commitment to community support & involvement

S & E Trusted Online Directories -the parent company that owns the online directory websites  www.trustedsaskatoon.com and www.trustedregina.com believes firmly in giving back to the communities we serve.

Since we launched www.trustedsaskatoon.com on May 31st 2011 we have had a consistent presence in community charities/ non profits and events in both of the Trusted cities we service..

Here is a list of community involvement since May 30th 2011: Totalling over $23,500 in just 18months

We are proud to partner, support and GIVE the Thumbs up to local charities, non profits and community events.   

• Child Find Saskatchewan – sponsored and helped promote an event through social media at Broadway Theatre.- $600
• We now sponsor them ongoing and promote them on www.trustedregina.com and www.trustedsaskatoon.com - $3000
• Campbell Homes Pink House for the Breast Health Centre- Sponsors- $5000 
• The Little Red Dress Club- Host Sponsor of the Scarlet Soiree benefitting Pink House Campaign- $400
• Sponsored a local first nations youngster to go to Leadership camp at YMCA -$150
• MS Society $250 donation from a Facebook contest Incentive
• C95 Radio Marathon for Breast cancer $250 Donation from a Facebook Contest Incentive
• Habitat for Humanity Regina Woman’s Build  Sponsor 2011 and confirmed for 2012 - $2000
• Silver Sponsor of Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism Celebrating Senior Volunteer awards 2011 &  Bronze sponsor 2012 -$3500
• Tourism Saskatoon Golf Tournament Hole Sponsor 2011. $250
• CFCR- $350 donation to the community Radio station.
• Hole Sponsor of Synergy 8-Decora homes –Saskatoon Crisis nursery initiative 2012 -$3000
• Several donations to silent auctions/ steak night fundraisers - $400
• Focus Mortages Kid Sport Regina Golf tournament Hole sponsor- $250
• YWCA Womens of Distinction Awards donation  - $3000
• MS Walk Saskatoon $350 donation
• Kidsport Regina Charity Race Silver Sponsor $250
• Canadian Cancer Society Jail n Bail - $100  
• New Hope Dog Rescue - Red Dress Pub Crawl - $250
• Relay For Life - Facebook Incentive - $176 
• Helping Regina boy Harrison to get to hospital - $100
• Childrens Wish Saskatoon though Facebook Contest $250

Here is a letter we received today at Trusted HQ in saskatoon from the Saskatoon YWCA ...this truly shows what these donations big and small add up to ..and what they mean to the people who are the beneficiaries! 

We are proud to be the only local Directories that work for you ..but we don't do it alone ..TOGETHER WE ARE TRUSTED! 

Our Trusted community of locally Trusted businesses are growing by the month, and collectively we raise $1000's and $1000's each month for our local community - giving back is the way to go and we give all our partners the Thumbs up for their amazing fundraising efforts and their individual donations and we will always support their efforts through donations and by sharing their events and iniciatives through our blogs, and via our social media platforms where we now have over 13,000 fans and followers!!   

Social media is one of the many ways the Trusted Team communicates the Trusted Directories philosophy to the public in the cities we service. New research proves that social media interaction between a customer and a brand drives both immediate and long-term sales increases. A report from LoyaltyOne, Medill Medill, and the Ivey Business School at Western University establishes the accountability link long sought by brands that have showered dollars on social media marketing while attempting to prove the return on investment to members of the C-suite.

The research findings are based on a two-year analysis of brand-customer social media engagement and transaction data. Researchers were able to show that those engaging customers with social media increased sales by 15% to 30% versus those not using any social media. The good news is this research delivers the evidence that investment in social media has the potential to return benefits in the form of transactions, profits and ROI if done well.

The higher the level of participation in a social media event, the greater the impact on a consumer’s purchasing activity.

As you can see by a recent screen shot of www.trustedsaskatoon.com where 1222 of the 1501 fans are talking about us, we are doing a great job of engaging our fans by providing value with posts, contests & articles that they enjoy. Our aim has always been to create real loyalty...so they spread the positive WOM in their real lives AND in their virtual world.  

Thanks to  http://www.techvibes.com/blog/social-media-sales-2012-10-26 for original source material.