Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

How important is it for business websites to include an icon indicating that the website has been reviewed by an outside service indicating that it is `safe` to do business with that site? I am guessing that they check to make sure everything you are posting is legitimate (address, phone number, etc.).

 Also, are there any site review services that anyone would like to recommend?

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Having an SSL (secure certificate) is almost mandatory for any ecommerce site.

For non-ecommerce sites, you can get various reviews... but customer testimonials/references and having your contact information - name address and telephone # is useful and can help instill "trust".

 

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

I don`t find it important at all. I can easily Google someone nowadays and figure out if they are a scam or not.

I feel reassured when I go to pay money that the browser shows the lock icon, telling me it`s a secure transaction site. I don`t need an icon ahead of time, or a certification icon. I do like to see "we accept" and credit card icons or PayPal, that sort of thing.

Oddly enough, I wonder how people in general get a "sense" of a site, as to it`s being legitimate? It`s my belief, though I can`t prove it, that the actual way the content is written more often than not produces that feeling of legitimacy.

"Trust" is an important factor is doing business on the web.

Trust – The website viewer must feel confident that all interactions with you will be completed in the manner you specify. In fact, you should display your terms (privacy policy), shipping process, returns/refund procedure, contact information, and ordering/payment process. Displaying testimonials from satisfied customers can add a level of trust, especially when those customers have a real name and location.

With all the issues and horror stories about making purchases over the internet it is very important that you use every tool to ensure the privacy and security of your potential customers.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

I think it is important to remember who is your customer.

I am selling items to people that rely on their computers, but do not know how to Google-sounds silly I know. They really don`t like their computers. They have seen and heard the horror stories either from word of mouth or on TV news stories. Whatever we can give them, new customers, that insures your legitimacy is important. Especially in a start-up business.

I read the testimonies, but I  don`t use them to sell me on an internet company, they are too easy to invent.

Trust is earned over time, but in the meantime you need to address the security situation.

Just my thoughts.

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"If you`ve got a frog to swallow, don`t look at it too long. And if you`ve got more than one to swallow, swallow the biggest one first"--Danny Cox

I believe it is extremely important to have a third party certification, and by that I don`t mean locked page/cart or encrypted transmission, that is expected it is the minimum acceptable, if a site doesn`t have that I would never do business with them. Sites like the BBB for me work as a collective repository of peoples grievances, every site will proudly display the compliments they`ve received but most will not post complaints. When folks get tired of complaining to a site/company they go and complain to the BBB, if the BBB has ten complaints it is safe to assume that there have been hundreds of dissatisfied customers most never made it that far. If the BBB has ten complaints and all are satisfactorily resolved I know that issues do arise but the company will work with you until they are resolved.

For this I googled `Scooters` on the sponsored search section the planetmobility.com website came on so I went to the BBB and got a report on them this report tells me that issues happen as they do with all companies but they worked to resolve them.


This gives me certain level of confidence with that company, did the same with another sponsored search result allnewsports.com but they are not listed with the BBB, that tells me that these people don`t want to have a visible record IMO it is likely they have a tradition of not working with you if issues come up. Just for kicks I did the same thing with a third sponsored ad efirmgroup.com with the same results, not listed. Which company do you think I would use? the one that gladly PAYS money to be listed with the BBB and have his customer service record displayed for all to see.

Thank you all for your responses so far. I guess I may have mislabled the post by using the word safe, because I I am interested in hearing a little bit more about building `trust.`

After I asked the question, I began trying to figure out what I look for when I am about to do business with a site that I located out of a need and have no previous knowledge. Personally I don`t really believe online testimonials, even if they include a persons name, state, or picture. Even if they are legitimate I would assume they would never include anything negative, and I have also come across more than a few that use stock photos with the testimonials which usually deters me from doing business because it makes me start thinking something isn`t right so I better beware! I am not anti-testimonials, they just don`t have influence on me unless they have done business with a large corporation I recognize.

I also look for SSL when I am entering my credit card number or I am ok with PayPal as an option.

ElidS`s post reminded me about sites that do incorporate the BBB icon. Normally I do click it to check the business out, and there have been a few occasions that I decided not to do business because of negative information that was reported. However I am still having a hard time identifying any other "approved site" type icons that I have come across that makes me feel `safer` using the site.

I try not to penalize a small business because they are just starting out, because we all have to start somewhere. But there have to be clear ways that people can distinguish the good from the bad, and of course I want to include that in my site.

Once again, any other imput would be appreciated.

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**College Application** **Scholarship Search** **Essay Editing** The Experts in College Admissions Counseling. CollegeStrategiesOnline.com Blog.CollegeStrategiesOnline.com

I often end up on a site I`ve never used, when I`m buying some sort of software. The single most important thing for me is the layout and "look" of the site. If it looks professional, works smoothly, navigates to my specific needs, I "trust" the site.

I tend to spend less than $50 per transaction, and somewhere along the line I figure if things go horribly wrong, I`m not out a huge amount of money. If I`m buying something much larger, then I look at reputation. So if I were buying a new monitor, I`d "trust" sites that I already know. For example, Office Max, Staples, CDW, Dell, Samsung, and so forth.

So basically, the look of the site is fundamental to me. As such, I use those ideas when I critique sites here on SuN. If I see bad spelling, poor grammer, and difficult navigation, there`s no chance at all I`m going to buy anything from that site.

But if I do see a well-laid-out site, proper language, and smooth navigation, that doesn`t mean I`m automatically going to buy something. I look at the type of shopping cart, and after that....cross my fingers and hope for the best. :-)