Bottongos.com

Committed for Better Business

Website credibility is a key factor that no small business owner can realistically afford to ignore as it affects sales and customer engagement.

Without a trustworthy and credible website, your ability to:

  • Maximize your sales.

  • Interact effectively with your customers.

  • Communicate your value to potential customers,

it becomes difficult and limited.

Think about your own online shopping experiences. What are some of the key reasons you have abandoned an online shopping cart?

  • The website’s payment gateway was not secure.

  • Shipping or delivery charges were not disclosed until near the end of the transaction and were too expensive.

  • There is no physical address that you can easily find on the website.

  • Phone numbers and email addresses for customer service were hard to find.

  • The website’s ‘return policy’ was either non-existent or difficult to find.

  • The above are just some of the reasons why web visitors can abandon a shopping cart. If a potential customer does not believe that they are dealing with a professional and reliable service provider, they will likely not complete the transaction online.

Here are some easy-to-implement changes that can help improve your website’s credibility.

How to increase the credibility of your website

1. Easy-to-access customer service

Make sure it’s easy for people to contact you through your website. Remember that customers like having customer support options. For example:

  • Phone support

  • Email support

  • Live web chat

Making it easy for customers to contact you means they can quickly ask a question about your product or service. This makes it more likely that they will make a purchase by helping them feel more secure in the knowledge that they can easily communicate if they have a problem.

2. Include your contact details

Put your contact details on your website. Sounds simple right? You’d be surprised how many websites don’t! At a minimum, you should include your phone, email, and physical address, even if it’s a PO Box. Often times when we cannot find contact information on a website, we immediately wonder if they are hiding something or why they are withholding this information.

Links to social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Instagram are also helpful in building credibility, as they show that the business is marketed and promoted on various platforms.

3. Customer reviews and testimonials

Google reviews, Facebook reviews, and customer testimonials help create a higher level of social proof. This helps build credibility for your brand and your website. If you haven’t added these social icons to your website, I suggest you do so.

4. Security logos and badges

Are you a reputable service provider? Do you have a CPA qualification or perhaps another well recognized qualification? If so, be sure to add these logos to your website. Including logos of recognized industry institutes or bodies can help increase the credibility of your website.

If you have a product-based business and you sell online, security badges can be very helpful as well. If customers know that their online transactions will be secure, they are more likely to provide their credit card details.

5. Articles and press

Don’t underestimate the power of print media. Articles, editorials, or press mentions are another great way to build your brand and create credibility online. Add these articles or add a link to them on your website. If there are some great images used in the article, please share them on your website as well, which again helps to build your business profile.

6. About us page

An informative “About Us” page listing credentials and experience is also a great way to increase credibility. After the “Home Page”, the “About Us” page of a website is one of the most visited pages. So if yours could use an update, go for it.

Take Action – Most are easy to implement

Above all, many of the above suggestions are easy to implement, so take a moment to review your website and assess whether there are opportunities to improve it.

Remember that with the right knowledge and a positive attitude, you can make the necessary changes to help grow your business. If you are not sure what to do or need help, consider seeking help from a qualified marketing consultant.

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