Establishing trust is an essential part of success as an online marketer. If your prospect doesn’t feel that he or she can trust you, they are not going to reach for their wallets. No one wants to be placed in the same category as the snake oil salesman of yesteryear, after all. By making an extra effort to present yourself as trustworthy, you find it much easier to turn a prospect into a paying customer.
Add an About Us Page to Your Site
Your web site is your online calling card. Internet users feel better about doing business with people that they feel they know. Including an “About Us” page on your site gives you the opportunity to connect with your site visitors by sharing some personal information about yourself and your business.
Share Testimonials with Your Site Visitors
Posting positive comments from former customers shows that you are someone who can be trusted. Before you post a testimonial on your site, ask the person if you can use his or her comments and whether you can post the full name or use initials only.
Offer Something for Free
One way to increase your trustworthiness quotient is to give something away for free. To encourage site visitors to sign up for your mailing list, offer them a free report on a relevant topic.
Fill Out Profiles on Social Media Sites Completely
When you are filling out your profile page on social media sites, provide as much information as you feel comfortable sharing. A prospective buyer is more likely to trust you if you have a link to your web site readily available. You can also choose to share some information about your professional and educational background so that the person reading your profile can get an idea of what kind of person you are.
Participate in Social Media Sites
If you don’t have Facebook and Twitter accounts, get these set up now and use them regularly. Keep in mind that the comments you post will be seen by current and prospective buyers, so you will want to err on the side of caution when getting involved in discussions and avoid making comments which are offensive or inflammatory.
Answer Online Questions Relating to Your Niche
There are a number of ways you can answer questions online to present yourself as a trustworthy person. Participating in discussion groups or online forums is a great way to start. You can also register on sites like Yahoo! Answers to share your knowledge with visitors to that site.
Give Interviews
Making yourself available for interviews will help to raise your profile and establish you as the “go to” person in your niche.
Following these seven steps to increase trust will help you to present yourself as someone who the customer can do business with confidently, and your business will grow as a result.