This article originally appeared in the “Affiliate’s Corner” column of Revenue magazine.
Lack of consumer trust is still the biggest obstacle to online sales, and judging by the amount of spam and scams flying about in cyberspace, surfers are right to remain wary.
Here are 10 ways you too can increase your conversion rates by improving visitors’ trust in your sites.
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HONESTY
Visitors should know exactly what to expect before they get to your site. Dishonest advertising wastes their time and your money. They’ll leave without buying, or plans to return.
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SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE
Affiliates with high conversion rates usually own the products they sell. First-hand knowledge lends credibility to their personal reviews and sets them apart from the crowd.
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INVITE FEEDBACK
Testimonials from happy customers are an excellent way to build trust in your product reviews.
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SELL QUALITY
Complaints, refunds and charge-backs lower your reputation, as well as your revenue. Sell only high-quality products.
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KEEP DESIGN SIMPLE
Gratuitous animated graphics scream “Webmaster Kindergarten”. Focus on your products, not fancy gimmicks.
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SHOW RESPECT
Broken links, graphics and forms are frustrating. Pop-ups, music and noise are maddening. Respect your visitors’ time and space. Make sure your site is free of errors and other annoyances.
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BE AVAILABLE
Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. A highly visible contact link on every page is usually enough to let visitors know that you are readily available.
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EXPOSE YOURSELF
It’s a psychological fact that trust increases with exposure. Stay in touch with your visitors by sending them useful information through your mailing list.
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STRETCH
Affiliates often receive emails better handled by the merchant partner. Don’t ignore those emails. Relaying the message promptly brands you as a professional with both the customer and your partner.
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GIVE TREATS
Freebies are like chocolate samples. Few folks will turn them down, and your reputation goes up when they’re good.
As you can see, gaining your visitors’ trust is simple. Simply be trustworthy. Incorporate one or all of the above methods and watch your credibility, conversion rates and sales increase.
About Rosalind Gardner
