Safe And Stress-free Shopping! Building Customer Trust

As increasingly more merchants move online, it becomes an increasing challenge to stand out from the pack. Though price might influence a shopper's decision, it is generally not the deciding factor: most purchasers would choose to pay a little more for a product they feel safe buying, than to spend less and worry they are throwing their cash away.

That's why, as an online retailer, making a safe and stress-free environment for your shoppers should be a top priority. With internet scams and identity fraud to be concerned about, most online buyers go to merchants they recognize and believe in. If clients do not really feel secure spending their money with you, they will move on to another auction or web site where they do feel comfy.

Suspicious Minds

In accordance to Steve Woda, of http://BuySafe.com, "About 50 percent of people who surf online don't buy on the internet, and the number one reason is simply because they don't trust something about the transaction-the merchant, the process, the payment method. Whatever it is, it's always about trust." There are numerous actions you can take to express credibility to buyers and build their confidence in you:

* Professional Image. Your web site or auction listing's visual appeal creates a strong impression before customers read a single word. Make sure the message you're sending is the one you want to be sending. Careless mistakes and misspelled words signal customers they are not dealing with a serious businessperson.

* Build Your Ratings. Your merchant ratings and feedback ratings go a long way on the way to guaranteeing shoppers that, should they purchase from you, their products will arrive and be in good condition.

* Good Customer Service. Promptly returned phone calls and email inquiries, and thorough, courteous communications demonstrate to buyers that you are an authentic, reliable merchant who'll supply them great service.

* Third-party Solutions. This is among the strongest signals you are able to send that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.

o Seals from companies such as the Better Business Bureau, SquareTrade, and BuySafe tell clients your business has passed inspection and been accepted by trusted third parties. BuySafe will even guarantee your transactions, therefore your buyers can shop risk-free.

o Verisign and GeoTrust SSL certificates let your purchasers realize their personal information is encrypted. Other third-party solutions are available, such as HackerSafe which scans your site for vulnerabilities, and TRUSTe which inspects your privacy policies. Making PayPal obtainable as a payment choice likewise tells purchasers you have been through a really thorough verification procedure.

There is more than enough data to prove that using any of these solutions can considerably increase your conversion rate. When buyers believe in you, they are much faster to spend money with you. Says Woda, "I do suggest merchants... deal with buyer uncertainties by leveraging as numerous of these things as they possibly can. It's all about distinguishing [yourself] as professional, legitimate, and credible.