Website credibility is one of the most important factors for a business. Customers will decide whether they can trust a business or not in the blink of an eye, so it is important to convey credibility and build trustworthiness on your site.
According to BJ Fogg at Stanford’s Persuasive Technology Lab, there are four types of credibility. These include earned credibility, perceived expertise, transparency and authenticity.
1. Secure Your Site
Website security is a serious concern for all business owners. A few simple measures can greatly improve your site’s security.
Every file, database, and application on your website represents another point of entry for hackers. Delete any files that are no longer in use and regularly back up your content.
Encourage employees to use strong passwords and update software as needed. Also, a web application firewall (WAF) helps protect your site from SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
2. Put a Face to Your Business
People are more likely to trust businesses and products if they feel like they know them. This means that your website should give visitors an insider’s view of your company.
One way to do this is by adding a “meet the team” page. Another way is by displaying your customer service contact information, such as phone numbers and operating hours. This shows that you care about your customers and are committed to providing them with support.
3. Be Honest
Honesty is one of the best ways to build trust with your customers. Consumers are used to businesses bragging about their products, but they also appreciate a business that is willing to admit its warts.
Showing that your company is active and that the content on your site is up to date is another way to demonstrate honesty. This shows that you care about your visitors and are willing to keep the content on your site relevant.
4. Make Sure Your Content is Up-to-Date
Keeping your content up-to-date is an important aspect of building credibility. Having current content will show visitors that you’re knowledgeable about your industry and are actively involved in it.
Using the latest information is also helpful for SEO. Updating older articles with new resources can make them more valuable and help you rank higher in search results.
For example, if your website offers SEO advice, it’s important to update your content regularly with the latest trends.
5. Make Sure Your Contact Information Is Easy to Find
Your contact information is one of the most important ways to build trust with your visitors. Your website should clearly list all the ways they can reach you and include a form that makes it easy to start conversations.
You can also display your physical address on your Contact page and have an FAQ section that answers the most common questions.
6. Add Social Proof
Social proof is a powerful way to build trust with your visitors. Showing real-time sales popups, for instance, can give your visitors the little nudge they need to buy from you.
Customer reviews are another form of social proof that can boost your website’s credibility. Just be sure that the reviews you use are authentic.
Avoid including fake or misleading reviews that could backfire in the long run.
7. Make Sure Your Site Looks Good
A well-designed or creating reliable websites makes your business seem serious and trustworthy. It’s a great way to establish trust with your visitors and turn them into customers.
Don’t be afraid to use white space on your website. Minimalistic designs can convey professionalism and a sense of credibility.
Avoid obvious grammatical errors and typos. These errors can make your site seem unprofessional and could lead to distrust in your customers.
8. Add Third-Party Reviews
Your website’s credibility is what convinces visitors and potential customers to trust you. There are a few ways to boost your credibility, including posting reviews and testimonials.
You can add reviews to your website by simply copying and pasting them from other sites. However, this method can feel inauthentic and also causes copyright issues because Google considers these reviews to be duplicate content.
9. Make Sure Your Site is Easy to Navigate
Website credibility is a critical element of any business. Without it, potential customers won’t be able to trust your content or products.
Among the most important ways to establish website credibility is making your site easy to navigate. This includes having clear navigational links and using a search feature that can help visitors find what they’re looking for quickly. It also includes including breadcrumb links that show where a visitor is on your site so they can retrace their steps.
10. Make Sure Your Site is Secure
Publish your privacy policy so visitors know how you treat their information. This is important to make your visitors feel safe when buying from you or submitting their personal information.
Keep on top of website security by keeping track of user roles and limiting access to the CMS to only those who need it. It also helps to have backups of your site.
