On the Web, Seeing is Believing

In the last 2 newsletters we offered tips on how your website should be working so prospects find you—because if you’re offering a solution to a problem, people with that problem are looking for you.

In the next 2 newsletters, we’ll address what your website must do once prospects do find you. When it comes down to parting with money every buyer wants to know that you have the quality, the capability, and the power to deliver what you say you will. This is summed up in one word: credibility.

It’s easier than ever for individuals to look like something they’re not, and even the most legitimate company is suspect when the website is missing one or two critical pieces of information. Let visitors know your web site represents a trustworthy organization. According to Stanford University, “the easiest way to do this is by listing a physical address.”

Does your website radiate credibility? Find out: Stanford University offers an overview of the 10 elements that build web credibility.

http://credibility.stanford.edu/guidelines/index.html

Worried your website might be missing some critical information? Contact KOB Designs for a free evaluation. If you need an update, we’ll tell you where and why.

On the Computer, Believing is a Professional Issue

• Check everything you put in writing. One common credibility-buster is misspelled words. You may be the very best plumber on the planet, but confidence slips a notch if your invoice references a “toylet repair.” Use spell-checker (especially on your emails).

• Value relationships over transactions. Business through the internet and communicating via computer seems to confuse some people when it comes to the basics. Liz Ryan (WorldWIT) advises, “Valuing people for their intrinsic worth over the business transactions they enable is key. ‘Ka-ching’ networking - the kind of outreach that signals ‘Say, you could make me a buck today’ is unseemly and unfortunate.”

In the next QuickShot:

Web credibility: for many consumers today, a business without a website is like a car without a sound system. There’s rarely a reason compelling enough to chose the one without over the one with. Find out how to leverage your credibility through your website.

Need Help?

KOB Web Designs is here to help you find what you need when it comes to computers and websites. Have something that annoys you about surfing the ‘net and wonder if there’s a way to make it better? Ask us!