Do you think that you build trust with your website?
The Internet can be a daunting place to some people – especially when they’re planning to make a purchase.
Understandably, users worry that personal information they enter can be used against them; that their behavior is being tracked; and that the information they see and read can’t be trusted. Fake news and scams are everywhere, and hackers can misuse the Internet for personal gain or worse.
So how can you help your users trust your website – and, in turn, trust you?
5 Ways to Build Trust With Your Website
Here are a few tips to make you build trust with your website:
1. Be helpful, and tell the truth
First and foremost, be sure that the information on your website is relevant, factual, and up-to-date. A single piece of untrue content – whether intentional or out of date – may cause users to wonder if anything on the site can be trusted.
2. Use recognized logos and badges
Logos and badges such as Better Business Bureau, Verisign, and Paypal let the users know that a business is recognized and attached to trustworthy resources.
The little lock sign in the browser bar for SSL-protected websites shows that you’re keeping your users’ information secure. If you have recognizable clients (and have their permission), using their logos on your website can give you credibility by association.
Do you have the lock sign on your site? If not, talk to AndiSites today and we will help you get SSL-protected!
3. Build trust on your website by showing your face
People work with people, not companies. Let readers know that there are actual humans attached to all the names, titles, and promises on your site.
Whether you are providing information to the public or selling something, showing the faces of the people at your organization can build trust. And they don’t want stock photos! Check out the AndiSites Team page below – that’s really us!
4. Include testimonials
Having others endorse you or share stories of how you’ve helped does wonders for building trust. Apart from your own marketing messages, testimonials show that others have placed their trust in you for good reason.
Furthermore, if potential customers can identify with others you’ve helped, it’s easier for them to envision working with you.
The testimonials can be scattered around the site – a sales landing page is a great location – or on a dedicated page like the AndiSites Testimonials page.
5. Keep your promises – large and small
People visit a website because they expect to get something in particular which could be information, products, or news, etc. Be sure they can get it easily.
Next, check that elements like buttons, links, and forms behave the way that users expect them to. If blue underlined text is a clickable link, make sure that style is consistent throughout your site.
In addition, if a call-to-action button is in the footer on every page, don’t move it to the header on some pages for no good reason. Website users learn visual cues quickly, so make sure you use the cues in the same way – no matter where the users land on your site.
There are many ways to build trust in your website and your organization.
By following these principles you will help customers feel safe working with you and recommending you to others.
This will also lead to users staying on your site, coming back to your site, and ultimately converting – whether that’s making a purchase, subscribing, or following another desirable action.
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