The power of your website is undeniable. A business website can continue working for you long after you have closed your doors for the day. But not all websites are created equal. In order to get the most out of your site, you must focus on building a website that showcases the credibility of your business.
There are so many websites out there that look like they haven’t been touched in years. The information is out-of-date. Features just don’t function like they’re supposed to. A sloppily done or neglected website has the potential to turn off potential clients and can have a huge impact on your ability to profit from your online presence.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure that your site is as professional as you are. Here are some of my best tips for making an impactful first impression and positioning yourself as a credible business online.
Six Ways to Build Credibility on Your Website
Edit your copy
Grammar mistakes and misspellings may imply that your business is unprofessional and does not pay attention to detail. Proofread your website pages to ensure that the information is up-to-date, clear, and free of typos and other embarrassing errors.
Limit advertisements
A site that is overloaded with advertisements can seem untrustworthy to visitors. Many people have accidentally clicked on an advertisement, only to be brought to some irrelevant webpage. And nobody likes that! Avoid including advertisements, or at least limit them, to bump up your credibility.
Check functionality
When a site has been left unchecked, it is not uncommon that some of the features stop working the way they should. If you’ve neglected your site for a while, it’s important that you check to make sure that your most vital features still work properly. Slow page loading times and broken links are two issues that you should address to increase the trustworthiness of your website.
Include testimonials
With so many businesses online, the options can seem endless to consumers. Testimonials are a great way to showcase your work and let potential customers know that others have trusted your business. Include a testimonial page on your site or include them on your homepage. Social proof is a great way to boost credibility.
Provide contact information
Trust is so important when making purchasing decisions online. That’s why it can be helpful to include your current contact information on your website. When customers know that there is a real business behind the site, they tend to feel more at ease.
Showcase your team
Just like providing contact information, showcasing your team (even if it’s just yourself) can help build credibility. Making your business more than just your products or services is key to building the trust that you need. Including photos and brief bios of your staff help to create that sense of trust.
A great site demonstrates to customers the quality of your product or service. Credibility is key when doing business online, so make sure that you are putting your business in the best position possible. Follow the tips above to help you keep your website up-to-date, credible, and working for you.
If you have concerns about your website and what it communicates to customers about your business, be sure to contact ACA Web Consulting for a consultation.
We can review your site and suggest areas for improvement, increased functionality or design changes that will make a huge impact.
