4 Ways to Give Customers Peace of Mind in the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country. By providing flexible hours to individuals of various ages and interests, everyone from teens who want to earn extra spending money from their passion for animals to retirees who want to get paid for driving their beloved car a few hours a week are getting a piece of the action.

One of the setbacks many individuals working in the sharing economy face is the concern some clients feel regarding their safety. After all, using a ride sharing service requires people to get into a car belonging to a person they don’t know, an action that is seemingly counterintuitive to the “don’t talk to strangers” lesson we’re taught from an early age.

However, what many customers of these services don’t realize is that there are several ways that these companies – as well as the contractors working for them – are working to ensure that their clients not only receive the very best, but also the absolute safest, services available. Here are a few tips on what to say to clients who need extra assurance that they’re in good hands:

Set up a meet and greet to show your clients they’re making a good choice by working with you. If you’re providing a service to someone, especially if it is one that will be done in their home, both parties will benefit from a meeting beforehand to go over any questions or concerns. For example, even if your new client has seen your impressive resume, she still may feel more at ease using your babysitting services if you have met her and her child prior to your first job.

Inform your customers about the safety measures your company has taken for their protection. Many companies provide insurance on the off chance that something goes awry when their clients book a service. For example, many housecleaning services offer protection in the event that something valuable gets damaged or goes missing at a customer’s house while one of their employees is on the job. While you obviously don’t want to put the idea in a client’s head that this is a possibility, you may want to recommend they take a look at the company’s policy page if they have any concerns.

School your customers on the facts of your education. Many companies recognize that the value in providing training and other educational programs that promote safety is having a team of only the best professionals available. But many clients don’t realize that not only are you passionate about, say, dog sitting, but you also have experience and several helpful courses to vouch for you. Don’t hesitate to toot your own horn – wouldn’t you want to know that your dog sitter knows how to perform canine CPR?

Discuss how your company truly only wants to employ the best of the best. It’s common with ride sharing and other services to allow both customers and employees to rate the other based on their experience together. Not only does this help protect drivers from providing service to an ill-behaved clientele, but it also guarantees customers that the individual providing them service has been approved by other clients for their top-notch skills.

It’s natural and prudent for consumers to take extra precaution when hiring individuals to perform services such as caregiving and transportation. That’s why it’s critical for you to put their concerns to rest by informing them of the abundance of ways both you and your company are working together to provide top-notch service – and then, of course, to demonstrate it!