The Trust Factor: 7 Ways to Build It

How do you build trust over the Internet with visitors to your sites? If you're selling anything over the Web, people don't usually have personal contact with you, so your written words have to create confidence with potential buyers.

This is one of the reasons we advocate blogging for your business. When you are writing frequently, people get to know you on a level that is beyond your web page brochures and sales copy.

There are other things that go into creating an impression of reliability and trust with people. Here are a few things to consider:

1. You write in a clear and transparent way
2. You show you're fallible and make mistakes, and admit and correct them
3. You provide free reports, teleseminar access, and other info for free
4. You don't over-hype your products but deliver your sales copy with research, case studies and valid testimonials

5. You respond immediately when someone comments, asks a question or needs service
6. When someone decides to participate or register for a product/event/service, the autoresponder confirmations, instructions and downloads are smooth
7. You allow refunds and guarantees without questions

What else do you see as an opportunity to create trust?

 

Comments

[Sharon Lee]

I guess this might fit into point #1 you made, but it's about letting people get to know you. And one of the best ways is to relate stories about yourself (and then tie them directly into the points you're trying to make).

There's a great article about precisely that here:
http://www.jamesbrausch.com/grow-responsive-readers-by-sharing-stories/

Here are just a few of the comments the author makes:
- People prefer to buy from other people they know, like and trust.
- Telling your story builds trust because you transform from a nameless, faceless, voiceless stranger who knows how to put words up on a Web page to a real, flesh and blood, human being.
- Personalize your writing and websites by sincerely injecting more YOU into them.
- Have fun and be yourself.

Heck, just go read the other great points in the article for yourself... ;-)

- Sharon

[Saporito]

I can't count the amount of articles I've read lately expressing the importance of relationships between a business and client. It is important to be personal for a list of reasons. Building a connection will go much farther and give a better return than generic service any way.