One of the best ways to gain that competitive edge is to ask yourself what features of traditional high street shopping consumers may miss when they venture online. For a start, when we walk into a shop we can easily appraise our surroundings. You might ask yourself if the environment is clean, are staff approachable, and whether the business is trustworthy? Of course, consumers have a certain level of trepidation when shopping online - because none of these visual checks are possible.
Therefore, it is imperative for any online retailer to reassure customers of their authenticity, trustworthiness and legitimacy. If they don't, the customers will simply go to another site, or back to the high street. But how can you achieve this degree of trust across a web connection? Basically, you need to provide a universally recognisable verification of your credentials as guaranteed by a trusted third party source. Don't panic, this process isn't nearly as expensive, or complex, as you might at first think.
The common problem of needing to prove your credibility to customers can be easily remedied by the acquisition of an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate eradicates several security issues. Firstly, websites approved by SSL will display the iconic padlock symbol in the visitor's web browser, thus confirming the data connection between your website and the visitor's computer is protected. How is this data protected? Well, SSL ensures strong encryption of all the transmitted data, and third parties won't be able to decipher this information. Once customers know that they are using a totally secure connection, they won't have any concerns about submitting sensitive data to your site.
To really reassure your customers, you should consider an Extended SSL certificate. This advanced security measure goes further by inserting a ‘green bar' into the URL field of your visitor's browser; the clearly visible bar instantly confirms your identity as genuine. Anyone who buys an SSL certificate is subject to third party vetting by the issuing authority. This process is vital, so there are no discrepancies if customers query your identity.
Overall, it is imperative for online businesses to win the trust of customers. You could have the best looking and best functioning website on the internet - yet if visitors don't feel safe giving their sensitive data to you, your competitors will get the sale. It really is that simple. Buying an SSL certificate, from a reliable vendor such as Webfusion, will ensure that security issues don't hold your online business back. It is vitally important to cover all the bases in these testing economic times, no business can afford to lose customers.
For more information visit www.webfusion.co.uk [1]