Reasons Customers Don’t Trust Websites
2010 July 9
A recent post by Lisa Barone over on Small Business Trends caught our attention. The content is worth repeating for any web hosting customers who are either trying to sell online or establish credibility. There are a few points that are listed in the 11 Reasons Customers Don’t Trust Your Website and these are the most common reasons we have found.
- Spelling and Typos
Sometimes we rush to get new information posted on our website or publish a new blog post without re-reading or editing it first. - About Page
An about page will most likely be the first tabs that visitors will click on when they are first visting your website to learn more about you. How the about page is written will make a difference if it is boiler plate information no one will read through it. However if you start a dialogue as if you were speaking to a new customer face to face your personality will come through. First impressions make a difference in establishing trust. - Third-Party Testimonials
Although referred to in the original list as endorsements the simple step of adding testimonials from credible well known brands, or from like businesses will help. For example if I am a landscaper and you have a testimonial from another landscaper or garden center that means something to your potential buyer. It also shows everyone that you have been vetted by a trusted third party and are a legitimate business. - Recently Updated
If your content is stale, or if you have not updated the copyright footer to display the current year your website could have been abandoned. And may no longer appear trustworthy. Similarly if you are in retail your storefront experience is judged just as your merchandise or website might be too. Having a current newsletter link, blog post, or even a news reel can definitely help. If you can not find time to update your website and maintain fresh content FavorDesign (a division of FavorHosting) can help with low monthly rates. - Guarantees
We have seen great success with our own FavorHosting Guarantee since not everyone is going to be comfortable working with a new company they are not familiar with. And by offering a guarantee we show we stand behind our products and services and would rather refund a customer than leave with a customer having a bad experience. - SSL Certificates
If you are going to be taking sales online there are a few things you may be interested in displaying on your website. Including a Secure Site seal, or perhaps a Validated Identity badge. Some websites have even adopted the McAfee Secure badge that shows your website is being scanned for potential threats. - Recognized Credit Card Processing Imagery
Showing which credit cards you accept with a logo is a common practice within retail stores as well as on your website. If you accept Visa, Master Card, AMEX, Interac, or Paypal there are usually recognized buttons and imagery to show which cards you are authorized to accept. Doing so will also help customers see that you have been validated by these payment providers and further establishes trust.
More Information
You may also be interested in an earlier post about influencing purchase decisions:
Research Shows Websites Influence 97% of Clients’ Purchasing Decisions
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- Security Tips for Securing WordPress
- Google Analytics Event Tracking Explained
- New Study: Small Businesses Not Updating their Websites
- Tools you can use to Mockup your Website
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