| Building a name for yourself is essential to success in | | | | Lots of people judge a website by its cover. Provide a |
| today's internet business world. People want to do | | | | professional look but keep it user friendly and |
| business with and offer their money to people they | | | | consistent. Your design should be appropriate for your |
| feel they can trust. These ten steps will go a long way | | | | business and inviting to internet users of varying |
| to helping you build a reputation of trust with your | | | | experience. |
| visitors. | | | | 7. Keep it Simple |
| 1. Present a Real Face | | | | That snazzy flash page may dazzle some but for |
| Showing your web site is a legitimate physical business | | | | many others it will simply be overboard and they will |
| you will boost your site's credibility. The simplest way | | | | click on by. Use the basics that load quickly and |
| to do this is by providing a physical address and | | | | perform well for all internet users and don't require |
| telephone number for voicemail contact. It also helps to | | | | them to update their computer software to view your |
| post a picture of yourself or your office and place a | | | | pages. People are looking for information and they |
| list of memberships you belong to such as the | | | | want it quickly and easily and don't want to upgrade to |
| chamber of commerce and professional organizations | | | | get it. |
| for your business field. | | | | 8. Provide New Content Regularly |
| 2. Provide Authority | | | | A site with the same content your visitor saw last |
| Give authority site links to research and information | | | | month or even last week will give a feeling of absence |
| you present. Even if the reader does not check your | | | | or abandonment. Keep things current. Place new |
| information, seeing the respected source of your | | | | content weekly if you can. A blog is a great way to |
| statement instills trust in your information and your site. | | | | do this and you can schedule the content delivery to |
| And just the opposite - don't link to outside sites that | | | | make it easy. |
| are not credible. Your site becomes less credible by | | | | 9. Keep Ads to a Minimum |
| association. | | | | Advertising should be for products or services you |
| 3. Highlight Your Staff | | | | stand behind and should not constitute a large part of |
| People like to know who runs things behind the scenes. | | | | your site's presentation. Featuring a new product or |
| Offer brief "about us" information for your staff, even | | | | service every month or even every week can be fine. |
| if it's just you and your partner, freelancer, or virtual | | | | Just don't bombard your reader with ads. It conveys a |
| assistant. | | | | feel of your selling interest superseding your sincere |
| 4. Share Your Experience and Expertise | | | | interest in your customer |
| Are you an expert on some topic? Make that known | | | | 10. Present Clean, Error-free, Functioning Content |
| on your site, in your About Us page and wherever | | | | Spelling mistakes and broken links are a real turn-off. |
| appropriate in articles and resources. List your | | | | As an internet business owner you rely mostly on the |
| education and accomplishments in specific areas of | | | | written word to convey information and |
| knowledge and training. | | | | professionalism about you and your business. It is |
| 5. Be Reachable | | | | important that you present the best you can for your |
| People like to feel there's a real person there to | | | | visitors and that it be functional and accessible when |
| communicate with. Give a personal email address and | | | | they need it. |
| answer promptly. Provide a physical address, | | | | Use these ten steps to establish your business online. |
| telephone number and fax number if you can. A | | | | Not only will you gain trust and respect online, you will |
| customer help desk is a good addition for a busy site | | | | gather a devoted audience that will spread the word. |
| too. But most importantly, respond to their needs as | | | | That's the best advertising online that no money can |
| soon as possible. | | | | buy. |
| 6. Present a Well Designed Site | | | | |