How to Establish Trust On Your Website
When people visit your website there's always an end goal. An action you want them to perform, a product you want them to buy, some sort of next step you want them to take towards hiring you. But how do you get people to do these things? A big part of getting your visitors to do you what you want is by establishing trust with them so that they are willing to invest in you. People want to invest their money in credible products and services, they want to know that they can trust you with their money. Everything that you do on your website contributes to this in some way, but here a few things you can implement right away to start building that trust with your users.
Make Your Site Less Spammy
We've all been there. You click on the link to go to a website and immediately feel like there's something off. When users get even the faintest whiff that something might be a scam, they're likely to bounce in seconds. Do everything you can to make your site appear less spammy and more like there's a real person + business behind it. Remove unnecessary doodads and widgets for weather, visitor counters, or any ads from your site… people are coming to your site to check the weather anyway (unless you're the Weather Channel).
Put A Face To Your Business
Speaking of letting people know that there's a real person behind your website, try putting a picture of yourself out there. Your about page is probably one of the most popular pages on your website, and people want to know that they're going to be working with a real living human person. By including a picture of yourself on your site you're humanizing your business and digital presence.
Give Credentials
If you've got 'em, FLAUNT 'EM! Along with a picture of yourself, be sure to include any certifications or accreditations that you might have for your business. By showing these on your website you're telling potential customers that you are qualified for the job and have put time into learning your craft.
Show Off Your Success Stories
One of the best ways to establish credibility comes straight from the mouths of your previous clients. Take advantage of reviews and testimonials that you have gotten from old clients and feature them prominently on your website. Or better yet, show off that success visually with a portfolio piece or case study that goes more in depth into the project and how you found a solution for your customer’s needs.
Establish Your Expertise by Blogging
For many people blogging sounds like an impossible and intimidating task, but it's really one of the best ways to show your audience that you’re an expert in your industry. What better way to show people that you know what you're talking about than to write an article about it? Or give helpful tips? By blogging on your website, you have a platform to share information with your customers that will only make the trust you even more (and as an added bonus, it’s great for your SEO).
Your reputation is one of the most important parts of your business, and online this means the credibility of your website. You can start to build a trustworthy relationship with your potential clients before you even have contact with them by making sure that your website is a place that feels credible and legitimate.
Are you doing everything you can to create a trustworthy website? What else are you doing to build trust on your website?
