BBB CCIE Welcome Packet

Your Guide to BBB®Accreditation

Learn more about the resources and programs available exclusively to BBB Accredited Businesses

Congratulations on your BBB Accreditation!

Welcome!

You are now part of a group of outstanding businesses committed to advancing trust in our community.

At BBB, we believe in the power of trust, and our mission is to advance trust in business.

We believe that businesses who embrace trust as a core value in their organization will see that it leads to growth in employees, customers, community, and their bottom line. To us, trust is the glue that holds communities together; it’s the principle BBB was founded on, and it’s what continues to motivate us today.

BBB is proud to work with organizations like yours, that lead with integrity and high ethical standards.

As a BBB Accredited Business, you help support the programs and services BBB provides to consumers and businesses – from helping people find businesses and charities they can trust to sharing best practices in advertising, customer service, ethics in business, and much, much more.

We are committed to helping your business take full advantage of all the benefits that come with BBB Accreditation. This guide is to help you get started, and highlights some of our most popular tools, programs, and services. Please keep it close and reference it often.

BBB is a community-based resource, a trusted advisor, and a partner in business – please reach out to us with any questions or if we can help in any way.

On average, Accredited Businesses are likely to receive 7 times as many inquiries than non-Accredited Businesses, per year.

IABBB Research, 2020

Value of BBB Accreditation The importance of trust in business BBB Accredited Businesses are a select group of companies committed to high standards and best practices in customer service, sales, advertising, data privacy, and ethics. Not every company is eligible to become BBB Accredited, but those that meet our Code of Business Practices, pass a rigorous evaluation process, are approved by our local Board of Directors, and submit their accreditation fee, are welcomed into one of the most respected and well-known business communities in North America.

BBB Accreditation gives your business a competitive edge by showcasing your committment to outstanding business practices, increasing your credibility with consumers and setting you apart from your competition. BBB also offers helpful business tools and resources, and access to a network of like-minded business professionals.

Businesses across the U.S. and Canada told us how BBB Accreditation benefits their business:

Increases the credibility of my business

Demonstrates integrity in our business practices

Source: IABBB Research, 2020

Builds customer trust

Enhances my visibility as reputable business

Shows we care about our customers

Your business login gives you access to all of your account information

Get Started Login to your business account Follow the steps below to log in to your business account:

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Go to BBB.org and click on “Business Login” in the upper right corner of the screen Create an account using an email address you provided BBB or contact your BBB representative to have a password created for you

Once logged in, download the BBB Accredited Business Seal, edit your business profile, respond to customers, and more!

BBB Customer Reviews Managing your online reputation BBB uses a proprietary algorithm to aid in identifying fake reviews and makes every effort to verify that a review is based on a real marketplace interaction.

BBB also alerts you when reviews are filed so you can engage in the process, respond, and let us know if you question the reviewer’s legitimacy, so BBB can investigate before posting the review.

Responding to customer reviews can help secure your reputation online as a trustworthy organization. Customers are more likely to work with a business that values their input and cares about their experience.

To manage your customer reviews, log in to your business account by visiting BBB.org/CCIE/login or call 559.222.8408 for further assistance.

98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses... And BBB is, by far, the most trusted review site.

BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey, 2022

You’ve earned The Sign of a Better Business℠ Display it proudly for your customers to see!

As an Accredited Business, you have earned the right to use the BBB Accredited Business Seal—one of the most respected and trusted symbols in business. When customers see the BBB Accredited Business Seal, they know your business is committed to the highest standards of ethical business practices. Stand out from the competition and enhance your credibility by referencing your BBB Accreditation and using the BBB Accredited Business Seal wherever you promote your business.

Website

Email Signature

Company Vehicles

Let potential customers verify your status without leaving your website by installing BBB’s dynamic seal

Insert “BBB Accredited Business” after the contact details in your business email signature

Get more mileage out of your seal - display it on company vehicles!

Social Media

Videos

Business Cards & Invoices

Add the Accredited Business Seal to your social media profiles

Reference your BBB Accreditation in videos promoting your business

Include the seal on your business cards, invoices, estimates, etc.

Print & Digital Ads

Business Location

Radio Ads

Include the seal in print and digital ads

Display the seal on signage around your building

Mention your BBB Accreditation in radio ads

BBB has a variety of office and business products imprinted with the Accredited Business Seal, available for purchase. Reach out to your local BBB for details.

BBB Marketing Opportunities Affordable marketing programs BBB knows that business owners are busy concentrating on a multitude of things to run their businesses, so we have created affordable marketing opportunities specifically designed with our Accredited Businesses in mind. Businesses work directly with their BBB representatives to find a program that fits their business, brand, and budget, all while promoting their commitment to Trust and showcasing their BBB Accreditation.

Ads on BBB.org

BBB Accredited Business Guide

Millions of consumers come to BBB.org annually searching for local businesses they can trust.

Increase your company’s visibility by showcasing your business in premium ad placements through enhanced listings and banner ads.

Billboards are a cost-effective way to advertise to customers and grow your brand. Make an impact and increase your market reach by showcasing your logo next to the BBB Accredited Business seal in our co-op billboard campaign.

Program Sponsorship

Start With Trust eNewsletter

Become a sponsor of one of BBB’s recognition programs, which showcase outstanding leaders and future leaders in your community.

Sponsors are featured and spotlighted throughout the event promotion.

BBB’s official Accredited Business publication—provides you and your employees with up-to-the-minute news, events, intriguing features, and more. All this is published monthly via e-mail, in a lively, easy to read format.

For more details on sponsorship opportunities, email us at cindy@ccie.bbb.org

BBB provides customers with knowledge about the companies they are going to possibly do business with, which makes people feel safe and sure in their decision.

BBB Accredited Business

BBB Business Profile The importance of an accurate business profile on BBB.org Millions of consumers visit BBB.org every week to find trusted businesses and nonprofits. When your business appears in the search results on BBB’s website, it’s important to make sure your BBB Business Profile makes the best impression possible. A complete profile with details about your products and services, reviews from customers, and accurate and up-to-date information, is one of the key ways to leverage your BBB Accreditation. Make it easy for a potential customer to quickly find everything they need to know about your organization through your business profile.

A robust, fully completed BBB Business Profile is good for SEO and helps your company stand out from competitors.

Business Profile Checklist: GOOD Business address and phone number Business logo Website and email address

BETTER Products and/or services offered Social media handles Hours of operation Service area

BEST Photo and videos Refund or other customer service policies

Business Profile Features

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Business Overview Business name, logo, and description

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Business Contact Overview Business address, website, email address, phone number and hours of operation

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Accredited Business Seal Exclusive seal to designate a business has earned BBB Accreditation

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BBB Rating Letter grade based on information BBB is able to obtain about the business, including advertising issues, business practices, and customer complaints

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Customer Reviews Reviewers are verified by BBB to ensure the person submitting the review is an actual customer

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Get a Quote Messaging tool for prospective customers to request information about products and services

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Products and Services Overview Description of the products and services offered, including photos and videos

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Complaints Customer reports of marketplace experience and requests for resolution of disputes

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Business Details Additional business information including years in business, type of business and business owner(s)

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1

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10 8

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10 Business Categories

Categories assigned by BBB to describe the business relevant search terms to find you

*BBB Business Profile layout may vary as we make on-going improvements and updates to these pages.

BBB GET-A-QUOTE

A Lead-Generating Program for Consumers Is a lead generating program consumers may access through our website to request price estimates for products and services. We send the actual proposal to Accredited Businesses that could fulfill the request for an opportunity to gain a new customer.

Better Business Toolbox (BBB Toolbox)

Business Management Platform for various industries BBB Better Business ToolboxSM is an easy business management system to keep tools in one accessible platform. BBB Toolbox is a simple and cost-effective system that helps companies drive new business through multiple marketing channels. The à-la-carte feature allows businesses to customize digital products so they only pay for what they need without getting tied into contracts with pricing at or below market rate!

Services include:

Website Builder

Lead Generation

Social Media

E-Commerce

SEO

Email Marketing

CRM

Learn more about upgrading your online presence at BBB.org/Toolbox

The CEO Forum Group

An exclusive BBB Accredited Business Benefit!

BBB has a new partnership with The CEO Forum Group that allows BBBs and their Accredited Businesses the benefit of thought leadership content and insight. Through in-depth interview with over 1,000 top CEOs, The CEO Forum Group brings expertise from across the nation that you can use in your business.

BBB invites you to take part in our new member benefit, a free membership to the CEO Forum Group.

Included with your FREE membership at The CEO Forum Group: • Access to thousands of past interviews with Top CEOs • New CEO interviews every week • Weekly CEO Survey Report • Exclusive access to attend special quarterly CEO Summit events • The CEO Forum Magazine And much more – all at no cost to you because of your BBB Accreditation.

BBB is the only platform that truly seeks to assist both the consumer and business with an unbiased approach.

BBB Accredited Business

Mediation, Arbitration & Intervention Services Using BBB’s dispute resolution program Every business gets complaints because no company is perfect, mistakes take place, and miscommunications happen. What matters is that the complaints are resolved. Being responsive and working to solve issues that arise is part of what sets BBB Accredited Businesses apart.

As an impartial third party, BBB helps businesses and consumers find fair solutions, while avoiding costly lawsuits and public settlements. In addition to free complaint conciliation, BBB offers low-cost mediation and arbitration that helps businesses and consumers work through complaints to reach a mutually agreed-upon resolution.

BBB complaints are processed for Accredited and non-accredited businesses, and BBB asks all businesses to respond to any complaints they receive and address the issue(s) stated. This is just one additional way BBB is helping create a community where businesses and consumers can trust each other.

Mediation: This service is offered when disputes between two parties cannot be resolved. Informal proceedings are held before the mediator, and both parties work to reach an agreement. The program can save Accredited Businesses court costs, time and money in settling complaints. This service is available to all employees of the Accredited Business.

Arbitration: This service is offered when phone and other channels of communication fail to bring resolution to the problem. Arbitration is a formal process where the parties involved sign a binding agreement. Both parties will have the opportunity to state their case before a trained, professional arbitrator who will make a final, binding decision.

Smarter Living is a program designed to take BBB representatives into our communities to share experiences and scenarios of issues we see in the local marketplace through interactive presentations. Our goal is to educate and prepare our local consumers to prevent falling victim to various scams. These presentations have a variety of relevant topics designed to help teens, seniors, military families and investors be better prepared in the marketplace.

Smarter Living for Students is a great presentation for teenagers transitioning into adulthood.

They’ll be able to learn about buying a car, renting an apartment, the importance of credit, identity theft, job scams, and so much more.

Smarter Living for Seniors covers topics such as grandparents scams, email scams, telemarketing schemes, Medicare Card scams, Identity Theft, and much more.

For more information on having a representative speak to your group or organization call 559.256.6330 or email Cindy@ccie.bbb.org.

BBB Military Line Presented by the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust℠ The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute) is the charitable arm of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB). BBB Institute’s mission is to educate and protect consumers, promote best practices for businesses, and solve complex marketplace problems.

We believe that “Knowledge is Power” and “Financial Readiness equals Mission Readiness.” Through BBB’s Military & Veterans Initiative consumer education program and our web-based and mobile technology endeavors, we work to bring financial literacy to a most deserving segment of our population. Education and outreach that is user focused - on the ground - on the web - and through mobile technology - we seek to equip those who serve, have served, and their families with the tools they need to navigate an ever changing and often complex marketplace..

Learn more about BBB’s Institute for Marketplace Trust by visiting BBBMarketplaceTrust.org

Celebrating Community Role Models The Celebration of Ethical Leadership Awards In partnership with Fresno State University, BBB recognizes and celebrates local businesses that go above and beyond when it comes to running their organizations with ethics and integrity. This event is an opportunity to not only recognize and celebrate ethical leadership, but also bring the message of ethics to the community on a much larger scale. Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges for their intentional focus and best practices in promoting ethical decision-making in their business practices.

The Celebration of Ethical Leadership Awards entry process asks organizations to answer a series of free-response questions, which provide benchmarks on which organizations can reflect, evaluate, and determine how the organization strives to promote an ethical marketplace. Entries for the Celebration of Ethical leadership awards will be reviewed by a panel of judges independent of the local BBB staff.

This annual event is a great opportunity to showcase your company as an ethical community leader in front of a large and diverse audience.

Learn more at celebrationofethics.com

Questions? I’m here to help!

Cindy Dudley cindy@ccie.bbb.org 559-222-8408

Contact Your Local BBB BBB Serving Central California & Inland Empire Counties 2600 W Shaw Lane Fresno, CA 93711 (559) 222-8408 BBB.org/CCIE

© 2022, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico, and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved.