5 Tips On Building Trust Via Your Website July 16 2013 / Posted By: Melissa Priest
Whether you like it or not, each visitor to your website is subconsciously judging your company.
Visiting a new website is just like walking into a shop or an office for the first time. First impressions count, and can be the difference between winning or losing someones business.
If you think about the last time you walked into a place of business and it was messy, the staff were too busy talking to each other or on the phone to pay attention to you, you couldn’t find what you needed, so you became frustrated and left.
A similar thing can be said about a website. If your first visit leaves you confused and irritated, why would you return?
A nice clean and clear website that is consistent and easy to use, can instantly make you feel at ease and help you trust the company.
Whereas a poorly designed, out of date website, with broken images, typos, lots of different fonts and font colours, flashing graphics ……can instantly break your trust.
Here are some useful tips on how to ensure your website is in the best possible position to build a visitors trust.
- Identify your company – your website should include your company logo (preferably in the top left hand corner of every page), colours associated with your company, along with information about your company (About Us) page as well as how to contact you (a Contact Us page with information about your location, phone number etc). And please – be contactable. I have dealt with many websites that include a phone number but NEVER answer their phone. Next!
- Simple – People don’t want to have to work hard when trying to use your site. A well designed site that is consistent (headers and footers, navigation, logo etc) helps you actually find what you’re looking for, sounds simple doesn’t it!
- Personable – In most cases, someone will visit your site to find out more about your company, employees, products or work you have completed. So add a personal touch. Show images of you, your team. Include information about your experience and skills and those of your team. Show information and images of previous projects you have completed.
- Informative – A website is an easy way to provide information. Information about your company, products, location, projects you have worked on. This information can be provided via pages of content on your site, or via blog posts, or both. Whilst erring on the side of more information than less, also keep in mind that people don’t like to read big chunks of information online, and they also don’t like sales pitches and lots of marketing speak. So keep information simple, to the point and in manageable chunks.For e-commerce or shopping websites you need to provide as much information as you possibly can about your products (sizing, dimensions, fabrics, quality, colours etc) as well as secure checkout, payment information, return policies, etc.
- Social media links – if people can see you on different touch points or platforms, they are more likely to trust you. It makes you more transparent which is a good way to build trust through appearing to be open, honest, personable and contactable. If you have a company facebook page and a potential customer can see that some of their friends have liked your company, they would be more likely to like you as well. If you have a twitter following and share information about your industry, expertise, and converse with others online, this is another plus for your company. The more a potential customer can learn about you and your company the more they will trust you and use your company in the future.
If you have any other tips about building trust online please share them with us.