Trust is one of the most valuable elements a business can have. Without trust, it’s impossible for a potential customer to take the next step to make a purchase. Having trust factors on your website is crucial if you want a visitor to stay and, hopefully, continue on to buy a product or service from your brand. These trust factors are like subtle green lights throughout your customers’ journey.

Let’s take a look at some examples of website trust factors:

1. Website Design Design trends change over time, which can lead to some websites looking a little outdated or out of touch. It’s important to keep up with how design trends are changing to ensure that you stand out against your competitors when someone is making a purchasing decision. Share some examples of great website design that encourage users to take action. For inspiration, you can explore Web Design Trends and Effective Design Elements.
2. Navigation Your website should be easy to navigate. Any user that visits your website needs to be able to find the information they’re looking for within 2-3 clicks. When visitors find it easy to navigate around your website, they’ll stay longer and be more likely to turn into a lead or sale. Share some examples of great website navigation and explain what the website has done well in order to be successful with its audience. Check out these tips on Navigating User Experience.
3. Content From a content perspective, you should be sharing valuable content that helps your customers to trust your brand and learn how you can solve their problems. However, one issue that can easily occur is that your content becomes outdated. For example, it’s no use having a blog but only showing articles that were written 2+ years ago. Share some examples of good blogs with lots of updated content, as well as at least one example of an outdated and lonely-looking blog. For examples, refer to Best Digital Marketing Content and Updated Content Strategies.
4. Social Proof Social proof is a collective term for elements on your website that provide authority. Things like testimonials, case studies, and links to websites, videos or podcasts that you’ve been featured on. Another powerful social proof element is the widgets that show people who recently purchased, which is a great option for E-Commerce businesses. Share some great examples of social proof that provide authority to a brand on their website. Look at examples of effective social proof on Web Design Services.
5. Contact Details When someone is looking to trust a business, it’s important that they’re able to see you’re a real company. There are, unfortunately, some very believable fake or scam websites online, but they have one thing in common – missing or incomplete contact details. Ensure you’ve got multiple ways a visitor can contact you, such as email, telephone, and in-store if you offer that. Show good examples of contact information on websites. You may also consider including an example with little or zero information. For more information, visit Best Web Designs.
6. Copyright Year This last one is a simple fix but easily forgotten as a new year comes around. Updating the copyright year in the footer of your website helps a visitor to see that your business is active and potentially trustworthy. Some websites can have copyright years that are 4-5 years or more out of date. Show an example of an updated copyright year, as well as an example of something very outdated.

By focusing on these trust factors, you can enhance your website’s credibility and ensure that potential customers feel confident in doing business with you.