Business

First-rate salon, food and trades services: 7 tips to save you time and money by finding your best local gems

By Kelly Noble

Posted on July 15, 2014

Struggling to find a hairdresser that can get your look just right? Tired of settling for restaurants that feel more fast food than fine dining? If yes, it’s time to revamp your little black book of essential services.

Bradley Taylor, spokesperson at TrueLocal, says: “Great-quality, affordable suppliers are like gold. This is why many Australians are still travelling to their GP near their childhood home, or are using the gym beside their old workplace, even though they may face a 30-minute journey each way,” he says. “Consumers can compile a list of local service providers they can rely on year after year, simply by following a few easy steps and knowing what to look for when assessing businesses.”

TrueLocal helps an average of 5.7 million Australian visitors each month source great local services. Below, Bradley provides his 7 insider tips to help you build the ultimate little black book of local services you’ll never want to lose.

Seek referrals. Good suppliers you trust are often a great source of information about complementary services. For example, your beautician may be able to recommend a good hairdresser. Or your go-to plumber may know an electrician that does equally great work. “Businesses rely strongly on cross referrals to build their customer base, so you can often trust that they’ll point you in the right direction,” says Bradley.
Check how businesses respond to complaints. Scouring for positive reviews might seem obvious. Customer complaints, however, are a reality and can help you find suppliers that care. Check for how businesses have responded to any negative reviews online. “Businesses that care about their customers will personally respond to a negative review and go out of their way to try and rectify a negative experience,” Bradley says.
Avoid becoming a deals junkie. The craze for online deals has demonstrated that jumping from one business to the next on the back of huge discounts doesn’t necessarily find you the best, tailored service. “Deals are addictive, but it’s best to invest your time online in sourcing a reputable supplier that is perfect for you. If you do spot a deal that seems too good to be true, do your research online, read reviews on websites such as TrueLocal and assess if the business is right for you before purchasing,” Bradley says.
Look for a connection. In your first enquiry, whether over the phone or face to face, do you connect with a new service provider? “Do they invest time in that first conversation to find out about more about your needs, and do they offer additional expert advice without seeking anything in return?” says Bradley. “This may be a clue to the level of care they give all their customers.”
Beware of ‘negative ninjas’. Most review platforms allow you to look at the profile of the user who left the review and you can see the types of reviews they generally leave. Before being put off a business by a single negative review, check the general feedback that individual reviewer has given most other businesses. “If they consistently only rate well-reviewed services poorly, they’re likely to be ‘negative ninjas’,” Bradley says. “Make your own decision about whether you value the person’s opinion if they ONLY leave negative reviews. You’re looking for reviewers whose needs and the level of service they seek align with your own needs.”
Know where to look online. The large search engines are often the first place we go to for local businesses – but these are designed to answer a million questions and may provide irrelevant listings, Bradley says. “Search portals specially designed to source local services are a more targeted channel. Look for portals with mobile search apps. At TrueLocal, we’ve seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of people searching for businesses on our mobile site in the last year alone.”
Investigate credentials. Businesses that are certified and industry accredited have invested time and resources to ensure they offer a superior service. These credentials are especially relevant for certain businesses, such as in the construction, restoration and professional services. “It seems obvious, but you would be surprised at how many consumers fail to ask for credentials. Another way to find an accredited reputable service is by asking industry associations for details of their most experienced members – they are often very happy to refer great businesses.”