Trust is a foundational element of business relationships, and trust also extends to the way that a business communicates online. As a part of SEO services, agencies monitor all the components that play a role in promoting quality, and trust signals are the qualities that inspire a feeling of confidence in the information and quality content on a website. Building trust with users is the key to engaging an audience that supports your work, has a high opinion of your product or services and helps you to build your brand and increase your sales.
Trust signals have the power to inspire or repel consumers from doing business with your company. Although some trust signals are highly important and others are less obvious to the end user, they are fundamental to the way that you engage with your customers. Just like you may form a first impression when meeting a new person, your website forms an impression with consumers that can be either positive or negative. Understanding how your website may be perceived will help you to focus on improving your SEO services to gain the trust of your online audience.
When a consumer wishes to keep your product or service in mind, connecting with you on social media is an efficient way to continue to engage with your brand. For ease of use and building trust, your social profiles should be easily found on all the pages of your website, not just your contact page.
In addition to making it easy to find your social media profiles, it is imperative that you keep them updated and active. Useful content that engages users with your brand will encourage interaction and sharing, gain conversions and promote your brand in a positive and active way. The result should be an increase in traffic to your website and more activity on social media; you can watch for the uptick in your analytics as a reward for your efforts.
Your basic contact information – including your street address, telephone number and email address – is a simple trust signal. In general, SEO services ensure this info is displayed through citations. Having this information available on every page, rather than only on your contact page, lends validity to your business and ensures that users can quickly identify your location and contact information.
Nothing destroys trust more quickly than a user encountering a website that is difficult to navigate. The frustration that builds from a site that is not intuitive may cause the consumer to give up on the idea of doing business with you or even leave him or her with a negative impression of your business. A helpful, well-constructed website is a trust signal that users will quickly embrace. As much as it is intriguing to create a unique website, taking the concept beyond the basics of easily understood navigation could backfire and cause you to lose potential customers. Your professional SEO agency can guide the process of building your website into one that is both intriguing and easy to navigate.
Encouraging your clients or customers to engage with your social media channels and provide reviews or testimonials of your business products or services is another important type of trust signal. When you avoid providing the opportunity for consumers to comment about your products or services, potential customers may develop a sense of concern or distrust. Opinions are important, and consumers expect to have the opportunity to express their opinions about your business.
Creating and maintaining a blog is another way to increase engagement, promote your brand and demonstrate your expertise. Sharing details about your education, process or product allows consumers to connect with you and your service in a meaningful way. It also allows them to understand the quality that you bring to your work and the benefit it provides to them.
