Increase Sales by
Building Credibility
The Internet
has opened a whole New World of information and opportunity for all of us.
However, it has also created a breeding ground for scam artists. For this
reason, many Internet users are very reluctant to share their personal
information and order products online.
As an Internet entrepreneur, it is your personal responsibility to ensure
that your visitors feel very comfortable with you and your website. In order
to gain your visitor's trust and confidence, you must build your
credibility.
Domain Name
In order to establish credibility, you must be willing to invest in your
own domain name and professional web hosting. Websites hosted on free servers
are not taken seriously and will suffer a serious loss of business. Your
visitors may feel that if you don't have your own domain, you may not be
a credible company. They'll simply take their business elsewhere.
Contact Information
Provide your visitors with your complete contact information. This information
should include your "real" postal address and not a Post Office box number.
A business that hides behind a PO box loses credibility. It's perfectly
acceptable to use a PO box as long as you also include your postal address.
Create a page to add to your website called "about" and include all of the
following:
• A personal or professional biography
• A photograph of yourself
• A complete description of you and/or your company
• Your website and/or company objectives
• Your name, address, phone number and email address
It is very important that you include an "about" page, especially if you're
selling a product or service. You must do everything in your power to put
your visitor's mind at ease.
Privacy Statement
Internet
users are becoming more and more concerned with their privacy. Create a page
on your website called "privacy" and let your visitors know exactly how you
will be using the information you collect.
This page should include all of the following:
•How do you plan on using their information?
•Is their information sold or shared with a third party?
• Why do you collect their email address and how will it be used?
• Why do you track their IP address?
• Let your visitors know that you're not responsible for the
privacy issues of any outside websites you may be linking to.
• Why do you use order forms and what do you do with the information
acquired?
•Do you run contests and what do you do with the information?
•Do you have a discussion forum or message board? Let your visitors
know that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public
information and they should exercise caution.
• Do you have security measures in place to protect the loss,
misuse and alteration of the information under your control? If so, let your
visitors know.
• Let your visitors know how they can opt out of your mailing
lists.
• Provide your visitors with your contact information, should
they have any questions in regard to your privacy statement.
Testimonials
Another great way to build your credibility is to display your customer
testimonials. Include your customer's name, email address and web address
with each unsolicited testimonial to increase believability.
You can find a nice script that will rotate your testimonials each day
here:
http://willmaster.com/master/dailycontent/index.shtml
Money Back Guarantee
To further increase your credibility, you must completely remove your potential
customer's risk. Provide them with a solid, no risk, money back guarantee.
This will put their mind at ease by building their confidence in you and
your product.
In addition, you must honor ALL refund requests in a timely manner with complete
professionalism.
No matter what you're selling or how great your product is, you will receive
refund requests. It's just a part of doing business. Don't take it personally
or try to argue the point with your customers, simply give them a refund.
You may be surprised to learn that the customers who ask for a refund may
purchase other products from you in the future.
Feedback
Many times, potential customers will have questions in regard to your products
and services. Create a page on your website called "feedback" and place a
form on this page to enable your visitors to contact you. It is very important
that you
answer these questions as quickly as possible. Your personal response to
your potential customers can literally determine whether or not you're going
to make a sale.
A feedback form will also enable you to gather testimonials and receive
suggestions to assist you in improving your website, products or services.
Secure Server
If you're processing your customer's orders online, you must place your order
form on a secure server. This will protect your customer's personal information,
while at the same time, provides your customers with added confidence in
placing an
order with you. In addition, make sure you let your visitors know that their
information will be processed on a secure server.
By taking the time to build your credibility with your visitors, you will
increase your Internet sales
considerably.
Copyright © Shelley
Lowery
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course, Web Design
Mastery.
http://www.webdesignmastery.com
And, Ebook Starter - Give Your Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book.
http://www.ebookstarter.com
Visit Web-Source.net to sign up for a complimentary subscription to Etips
and receive a copy of the acclaimed ebook, "Killer Internet Marketing
Strategies."
http://www.web-source.net
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,
in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author
bylines are included.
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