How to Build Credibility Online - The "Magic" 15 Steps

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."
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HOW TO BUILD CREDIBILITY ONLINE: THE "MAGIC"
FIFTEEN STEPS

I find this a most interesting and somewhat complex subject, as there has to be TRUST in any business relationship before any exchange is made. This can be quite difficult to achieve, when you have never met your customer (prospect) face to face in another part of the country...or even the world.

Having been on the www over twelve rather interesting years, here are a few pointers that we find helpful in the online sales process:

Firstly
1. Have your OWN DOMAIN NAME (not expensive - less than $20 a year from www.000Domains.com. My associates and I presently have a couple of them at:
http://www.creativekiwis.com/ and
http://www.craiglockbooks.com

2. Offer GUARANTEES (money-back) on your products or services. (Hopefully you believe passionately in your product or sevice!). Then state your policy prominently on your web site.

N.B:
3. Emphasise transaction SECURITY in the form of a secure payment system and a secure server.

4. OFFER TESTIMONIALS from satisfied customers.
Hopefully you'll have some.

5. Have a PRIVACY POLICY for your online business. Offer a Privacy Statement.

6. Have CONTACT INFO on your web site. People then know to get hold of you, if they want further info... or if there is a problem (they do occur from time to time, especially in cyberspace; but then a problem is only an opportunity in disguise!).

7. Offer a BRIEF BIO: a little bit about yourself and how you are qualified to offer your product or service. This builds trust in your abilities and credibility for your online business.

8, Have a FEEDBACK FORM on your web site for visitors, where they can make comments about service and suggestions regarding possible improvements.

Finally (and most importantly),

9. BE YOURSELF, YET BE PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR WRITING (on your web site). Just be YOU, when writing script on your website or in your ezine articles. Ensure the information you provide is accurate and truthful - write with absolute integrity and honesty at all times. I also suggest using a bit of HUMOUR in your writing. I try to use a "dollop" (funny word that!), as I believe reading a computer screen is not a very exciting pastime (except to "geeks"). It's also a sedentary (big word) activity; so the least I can do for our site visitors, as a reward, is attempting informing and trying to entertain at the same time with doses of my "rather strange/wacky/zany" brand of humour. Hopefully it works!

10. Use proper grammar and punctuation (with the right "case") and avoid misspelling. This makes you appear to be "professional"- in your writing and in your "appearance" ...and image is EVERYTHING on the www.

11. Avoid using slang. Remember, the Internet is global and your "funny language" might offend other cultures. For example, I've learnt to avoid using the word "Yank"
(as I didn't realise it can be quite an offensive term to some people in the south of the "good old US of A"!).

12. Send all marketing email to yourself first as a test. Check the layout, spelling and grammar...to see how it looks in your prospective client's eyes - ie. on THEIR computers. Heed that one, Craig . Yes, just done that (thanks, Shelley)! Read it to check the tone of your message. It may be too pushy, casual and so on.

13. Think before you re-act to an abusive message. "Strike in haste and repent in leisure (I've done that a few times - not that we get many negative messages!). My advice...leave the message in your "in-box" for a day. Then look at it after you have calmed down...and decide whether it is worthy of a response - will it change anything? Perhaps the sender is just having a disasterous day and after deliberation, you can send a word of kindly encouragement in your "carefully composed" reply. (The subconscious mind will help you in this).

14. Really CARE about people. We all have frailties and are vulnerable at times. More times than at others. We can get what WE want in life through helping other people get what THEY want (thanks Zig Zigler)...

and finally,

15. "GIVE AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE."
GIVE FREE INFORMATION ... AND YOU WILL SURELY RECEIVE FAR MORE IN RETURN.
(Everybody has unique knowledge and expertise in certain areas - specialised skills and unique life experiences, which can help others through SHARING). This is the basis of "the Golden Rule", the Law of Giving, which is at the core of all the religions of the world (I think!).

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Follow all these steps and people then will be attracted to your web site (and regular TRAFFIC is THE BASIS/KEY FOR/TO SALES)... like bees to a honey-pot (that's a simile, by the way!).

Become a "busy internet marketing bee" in building your online credibility.

Here's to finding your "pot of gold" at the end of the internet marketing "rainbow".*

Craig Lock Eagle Productions Books ("Information and Inspiration Distributor, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

* that's a metaphore, BTW

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters.
If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters."
- Alan K. Simpson

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to use the Internet and he won't bother you for months...or perhaps even years!"
(Sorry men... however, I presume this principle also applies to our women-folk!).

Don't worry about the world ending today...
it's already tomorrow in "little, scenic and tranquil" New Zealand