What are the differences between Safe and Trusted Canada and other available options?
The management of Safe and Trusted Canada has been working with business owners since 2005. We listened to business owners to develop a database and platform that makes sense for both the consumer and the business owner. Safe and Trusted Canada has accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. See our report.
Businesses may apply for account status. See all Subscription Types
Not all businesses qualify for an account. Features and Benefits.
We look for businesses with credentials. Business Credentials
Many attributes of our Site that may be different are as follows.
1. A business can request removal from the Site anytime if they are out of business.
Some other providers keep the content as their data for years or indefinitely.
2. The Site starts with an information-only profile based on what the consumer would readily find on the internet. The business owner can apply for account status to manage their own profile.
Some other providers do not allow this to occur.
3. The Site provides public links to Google Reviews, Better Business Bureau and Safe and Trusted Canada. It does this to show impartiality. The Site provides other review links to trademarked sites to the business owner and the public. The business may unlink sites that they do not align with through their subscription. doe.
Some other providers do not give that information on their Sites. They provide only their information.
4. The Site platform highlights a platform where the business owner with an account can clearly articulate what makes them different. This is something that is often missed on business websites.
Some other providers do not allow those options.
5. The Site allows the business owner account access to list links to their affiliations, the business website, and other contact information. The Site allows the business owner to use the Safe and Trusted Logo link from their website to their platform on Safe and Trusted Canada for all business subscriptions.
Some providers want to charge a special fee for linking privileges or that you must have a paid subscription. We encourage this for every business and provide a free basic subscription at no charge.
Please note we do not provide the free basic subscription to those businesses with F-Ratings with Better Business Bureau or for those business owners generating five-star reviews on Google by rating their own business or having others rate their business that is a paid review or connected directly with the business.
6. The Site allows those with premium accounts more presentation options, including up to 10 PDF uploads, 24 images, and up to 10 YouTube links. The distinct advantage of this is that more information is immediately available to the consumer, which may not be possible on some business websites.
Some providers do not have these options available at all.
7. Some sites list businesses based on the distance from the consumer to the business. Safe and Trusted Canada does not do this so that a business is always listed based on their subscription type and the date of their subscription. In addition the search options for credentials automatically display businesses based on just that. It makes it fair for all businesses and can be at no cost.
8. Our options give the business the ability to link to all affiliations at no cost.
Some other providers do not provide that ability.
9. The Site ensures that every business profile reminds the consumer and the business that Safe and Trusted Canada does not validate, recommend or accredit a business. Our purpose is to give consumers accurate information based on numerous sources and not just one avenue of information.
Some other providers give the impression that they provide the best business to the consumer. Some even provide limited choices to the consumer; others suggest that they should not waste their time looking elsewhere.
10. The Site ensures that consumers and businesses understand that the transactions and interactions between the business owner and the consumer remain with those entities. Safe and Trusted Canada does not offer mediation services or arbitration services. We provide that information in every profile of every business. We do this in text and video.
Some other providers indicate that they will provide mediation services between the business and the consumer and have restricted numbers.
11. The Site may produce an Information Only profile but may be turned down for account access. The business does not qualify for an account if they have poor reviews or do not have sufficient information available for this Site to be a benefit to consumers. Our target group is legitimate businesses that are licensed. If the business has information we need to verify, they can apply once it has been received. If the business is never able to get account access, we suggest they may wish to request removal from our Site.
Some other providers provide access and ratings based on limited information or information that has not been verified by the business owner.
12. Consumers can search for credentials using our automatic search functions, which filter so that it meets the criteria required by the user. The consumer can use the credentials to search further by asking the business for quotes. The Equote system is only available for premium account holders and provides leads to those business owners.
Some other providers provide leads separate from the listing with significant costs to the business with limited leads.
13. Safe and Trusted Canada does not give the business an automatic grade or star rating. The Site may produce ratings for hotels and restaurants based on a composite review of several review sites. Consumers or anyone having a financial transaction with the business must initiate all other ratings. Consumers determine the grade of a business based on multiple factors, including affiliations, credentials, years in business and access to review sites.
Some other providers give automatic grades based on time in business.
14. Safe and Trusted Canada does not use algorithms.
Some other providers use algorithms and change them frequently to encourage ads.
15. Safe and Trusted Canada offers premium account holders some new abilities. The Site focuses on what makes the business different and who is the business’s ideal client. The business owner has limited linking power. All the links are reduced in length to give a perfect business presentation. Premium account holders that are contractors have the ability to use Request Equote at no extra charge.
Some other providers may have some of these features. Most do not.
16. Please note that we now have Discount and Promotions categories and a Job posting ability in the Basic presentation for every business subscription.
Some other providers do not have this ability.
17. The differences between one subscription level and another are the number of subcategories, the number of trade areas, and position in the database provincially, by category and by city or town trade area. The subscription level does not suggest the credibility of the business.
Some other providers may suggest that the more you spend, credibility is gained.
18. Safe and Trusted Canada could provide an excellent platform to advertise and manage your business. Great businesses have the ability to shine so that their trust levels are readily apparent. The platform gives the consumer everything about the business in one place.
19. Safe and Trusted cannot hurt the credibility of any business. The only possible way that business credibility can be hurt is if the business places untrue content into its profile or lists business credentials they do not have. If that happens, the Site business will have an Alert on its profile for one year and then subsequently archived. In this case, the business owner caused the issue, not Safe and Trusted Canada.
Some other providers may not be concerned with accurate information and may let it go because they want the money for the listing.
20) Safe and Trusted Canada now offers other software options, including Reputation Management and Social Media Marketing, with competitive pricing and in Canadian dollars. Remember, we are a Canadian business serving only Canadian businesses.
Some other providers may not be able to offer these software options.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The company may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
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- Information Only Profiles are as advertised to the public on the internet.
- As a matter of policy, the Site does not recommend, accredit, suggest, promote, or validate any business. Consumers do that through reviews.
- The Site provides public links to review sites that permit us to publish those links.
- The Site provides private links to all other trademarked review sites about the business directly only through their account access.
- Subscription types give business owners different advertising options, but the Site does not suggest that credibility determines the subscription level.
- Users can use the Credentials Search’s advanced features to determine the degree of reliability for each business.
- It is the responsibility of the user to check the credentials advertised by the business.
- Notify Site Admin immediately where the business is advertising credentials they do not have, or information is not current.
- The company and the consumer entirely determine transactions with each other.
- Safe and Trusted Canada does not mediate complaints, issues, or concerns.
- Seek legal advice for complex transactions.
- Protect your interests as the removal of the business may occur at any time.
- See all subscription types for businesses.
- See our YouTube Channel playlists.