Does website credibility matter? If you want to attract new business with your website, get more website conversions, get leads and increase purchases on your website, the answer is a resounding yes!
Website credibility is about creating trust with your website’s visitors. It is about showcasing your website as a knowledgeable source of information in your respective field. And it is the difference between a bold, flashy website and one that has a clearly defined purpose.
Trust is the key driver for website credibility. But, how exactly do you instil this trust? Have a look below.
What your website’s visitors think matters the most
Putting yourself in the shoes of your website visitors cannot be based on assumptions. It can be easy to fall into the trap of imagining clients’ needs or experiences from a business point of view. However, if you truly want to unpack client needs, find out what your website visitors think!
One of the easiest ways of getting to the core of what your visitors are looking for on your website and what will keep them engaged is doing surveys and face-to-face interviews. Your digital agency can set up user testing labs for face-to-face interviews and assist with surveys, which can ease the process and take time off your hands.
Your next step is research. Have a look at the data available from different user studies. What do people base their experience of website credibility on? Is it a website’s design, the way it conveys information or its FAQ section?
Knowing which factors have the biggest impact will help you improve website credibility. Here are six tips to get you on the right track:
1. Present a modern design to the digital world
When was the last time you refreshed the look and feel your website? Or asked users’ opinions about your website? Do you still have the same design from five years ago?
A website redesign is important if your layout has become out-dated. And the best part of it all is your digital agency has their finger on the pulse of latest trends and functionality that users expect. They can guide you on best practices and create new designs. This takes us to our second point …
2. Ensure your site is functional and error-free
Do you frequently check for any glitches on your site? Does everything work as it should or do users often complain about getting error messages?
A good user experience plays a big part in if people perceive your site as credible or not. Doing frequent site audits – on desktop as well as mobile – will ensure you pick up any glitches. Your agency team can conduct these audits and make fixes to ensure your website is running smoothly. They can also check copy for messaging, typos that might have fallen under the radar and any content edits that are needed. This will ensure your site remains credible.
3. Shape your content to be useful and easy to find
Have you ever visited a website and given up after five minutes of clicking link after link to find the content you are looking for? Don’t do that to your users. Ensure your site’s navigation is smooth and that users can easily find the content they need.
4. Know what your website’s intention is and adapt its design where needed
A website’s intention can be grouped into the following categories: branding, content publishing, ecommerce, lead generation and online information provision. This will guide your website’s look and feel and help you create a site that is relevant for its purpose. An online shop, for instance, needs to offer a great online retail experience – you are not going to treat it like you would treat an information portal.
An appropriate design will make your website credible and more attractive – which is exactly what you want to achieve.
5. Provide social proof
Word of mouth can elevate your business profile. Great feedback that you proudly display on your website grabs visitors’ attention. Some of the best ways to use this to your advantage are with positive testimonials and 5-star reviews. Carefully select the most relevant ones, and if there are testimonials from high-profile clients, all the better!
6. Provide a clear Call to Action (CTA)
Never leave your website’s visitors guessing as to what they need to do on your website. You can provide clarity with a clear CTA. Do you want your users to sign up for your services, subscribe to your newsletter or add products to their online basket? Make your intentions clear in a user-friendly, carefully curated CTA and test and adjust your messaging in various marketing tools, such as your customer emails and blogs, to see if they generate the results you need.
Verdict? Website credibility is important!
If you are experiencing no conversions on your website or you feel your website is not closing a deal or prospects, we can provide the solutions you need to enhance website credibility. Contact us today if you would like us to review your current website and boost conversions. We look forward to working with you!
