"10 Crucial Steps To Building Trust Online"
By Ralph Moore (c)2003

If you have read some of my other articles, you might have
noticed that I call email, web sites and other forms of
communication "flat" or "faceless".

In the "online world", you don't get to see the smile or
frown, hear the subtle inflections and tonal qualities of
voice, or "pick up on" the body language that often offers
added insight into the meaning of a message.

That's why it is doubly important to establish trust in all
of your online communications. Here are ten ways that I
have found to enhance credibility and increase trust online.

1. If you don't already have a professional presence on the
Internet, get one. If you are going to conduct commerce on
the Internet, you need at least one domain name, a web site
and one or more email addresses for your company or product.

You can get reliable, affordable domain name registration
from the one company that I use and recommend right here:
GoDaddy

And you can get an unbelievable web site hosting package
with unlimited email addresses and autoresponders from the
web host that I use for all of my web sites, and highly
recommend to all of my customers, right here:
Host4Profit

2. Make sure you put an "about.html" or similar page on
your web site, where you let the world know exactly what
it is that you do, and who you are.

Everyone might enjoy a good mystery book, but when it comes
to cunducting business, people like to have some idea as to
with whom they are working.

3. Make sure your contact information can be easily located
on your web site. That should include the name of your
company, your name or the name of a contact person, your
address, email address(es) and telephone number(s).

If you are a professional, you shouldn't be hiding anything.

4. Offer an easy to understand (readable) privacy policy
that can be found from each page of your web site. People
want to know that you are going to protect any information
that they give you.

5. Conduct ALL of your financial transactions in a secure
manner. This means that if you process credit cards online,
you need to use secure technology to do so.

If you need to accept credit card payments online, but do
not have your own merchant account, then you can use one
of the following "third-party" processors:

ClickBank

PayPal

6. "Brand" yourself. No, I don't mean with the "triple J"
brand. Provide your web site visitors with your "USP" or
"Unique Selling Proposition".

This answers the question "W.I.I.F.M." ("What's In It For
Me?") and helps them to stick around long enough for you
to gain their trust.

7. Whenever you write ANYTHING, whether it is an email to
a customer, an advertising piece for your web site or for
any other purpose, be sure to use a spell checker and
a grammar checker.

If possible, have someone else proofread your work for
"readability", as well as for errors. It never hurts to
have a second set of eyes look at your work, before you
embarrass yourself in front of the world.

And yes, I am speaking from experience!

8. Be an "open book". By that, I mean if a contact or a
customer asks a question, ALWAYS answer as honestly as
possible. There is nothing wrong with saying these three
little words. "I don't know!"

And if you choose to say, "I don't know, but I will find
out and let you know", then do just that. Do the needed
research, as quickly as possible and follow up sooner,
rather than later.

9. Communicate effectively. Remember, people who read an
email or look at a computer screen, might misunderstand
what you are trying to say.

If you think that there is any possibility of the meaning
being lost from the message, be sure to ask for feedback
or an acknowledgement.

10. Always think "WIN-WIN"! In all of your business
dealings, whether on or offline, work in such a way that
both you and your customer come out ahead every time.

It may take a little extra effort, but it will be well
worth it in the long run.

When it becomes obvious that you care more for the needs
of your customer, than you do for your own profit, trust
will always be a fruit of your labor.

By paying attention to the details of these 10 crucial
steps, you will build a foundation of trust and multiply
your success.

Ralph Moore, Editor - Eagle Flyer Newsletter - Get
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