Five Ways to Build a Trustworthy Business Website in 2023

In the book Go-Giver, authors Bob Burg and John David Man write, "all things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like, and trust." Trust is an essential component of all relationships, and business is no different.

A strong connection with clients starts with their first impressions of your company. More often than not, that perception begins with your online presence. Your website is one of the most effective places for your organization to showcase expertise, credibility, and authority, so you can earn clients’ confidence (and their business).

?Here are five ways to build a trustworthy website to cultivate loyal customers.

1. Improve load times

We have all been there. You type in a web address and wait, and wait…and wait for the page to load. If you’re old enough to remember, it may remind you of the days of dial-up internet when you would watch the image load line by line.

?In an era of 5G and fiber internet, people expect virtually instant access to every site, anywhere, from any device. Now, more than ever, seconds can make a huge difference for potential customers who are visiting your website for the first time.?In fact, 40% of website users will abandon a site if it fails to load within three seconds. And, if it doesn’t load within 10 seconds—most visitors will leave and not return.

?Maximizing the user experience, especially on mobile devices, is essential. 50% of all website traffic happens on mobile devices. So, if you’re not already finding ways to improve the performance of your mobile website, 2023 is your year to maximize your digital presence!

?Slow-loading and cumbersome websites will lose traffic and business. By building a reliable website, you can demonstrate your accessibility and trustworthiness to clients.

?If you’re curious about your website’s speed and mobile-friendliness, you can test it for free at sites like HubSpot’s Website Grader or Google PageSpeed.

2. Manage pop-ups

Once your site is up to speed, it’s time to simplify. Pop-ups can serve both you and your customers, but they should not prevent visitors from getting what they need from your site.

?Excessive pop-ups may also signal fraud or illegitimate practices to many users.

?Only use pop-ups that add value to your visitor’s experience, and make sure they are easy to navigate and simple to close.

3. Remove any errors

Sloppy copy, incorrect grammar, and irregular formatting all make it hard for clients to trust you. Spend some extra time reviewing your website, ensuring fonts, grammar, spacing and the layout are organized and easy to follow. A British survey found that 59% of website visitors would not use a company with mistakes in their marketing materials.

?Many companies use assistive writing technologies like Grammarly and PowerMapper or hire copywriters and proofreaders. If you’re not ready to use these programs, reach out to a team member or trusted colleague to give your website a thorough proofread. By ensuring your copy is free from errors, you can make a positive first impression, build credibility, and boost your Google search rankings.

4. Show your accessibility

Trustworthy business websites communicate their accessibility to clients. Even fully online organizations should publish accurate addresses and contact information, as well as social media profiles. Without this information, the website raises red flags about the legitimacy and longevity of your company.

?For brick-and-mortar and online businesses, timely, courteous, and helpful customer service is important for developing trust with your clients. 96% of consumers say that customer service is a crucial aspect in their choice of company loyalty. Prompt responses to calls, messages, and DMs are essential to build trust.

?If you find running a business, managing operations and being on call 24/7 is too much to juggle, there are simple, affordable solutions that don’t require you to respond to messages 24/7. Add a page to your site clearly communicating your policies, procedures, and customer service details. Task a team member with responding to messages during business hours. Or consider adding a chatbot to your site to interact with clients online.

5. Add seals, certificates, and social proof

98% of customers read online reviews for local businesses. Adding social proof to your website builds trust, boosts search rankings, and shortens the sales cycle—a win, win, win.

?Social proof takes many forms. It comes from case studies, testimonials, and reviews. These real-life examples of how clients benefit from your business can establish your expertise in the field and build loyalty. Salesforce reports that 93% of customers are more likely to recommend a company they trust. One of the most effective ways to build your customer base is by having your clients rave about your services. These referrals from existing clients are generally well-qualified and need minimal work to make the final sale.

?In addition to social proof, many companies display payment processing logos and security certificates on their website. It gives your clients peace of mind knowing who handles their information—and that you care about security as much as they do.

?The Better Business Bureau’s Seal of Accreditation is one of the most reputable logos to include on your website.

?This seal demonstrates that your business is committed to integrity, ethical business practices, and customer service. All businesses accredited with BBB have access to the marketing collateral needed to add the seal to their social media, webpage, and more.

?Establishing trust

?BBB Serving Central Oklahoma is in the business of helping local organizations demonstrate trust with their clients.

?Reputable businesses have shorter sales cycles, retain more clients, and benefit their communities. Send us a message or visit https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/better-business-bureau-of-central-oklahoma to learn more.