When it comes to web design, why is trust so important? The importance of trust in any relationship cannot be overstated. The same is true for your brand and website visitors. According to studies, upgrading a website’s design to include more modern elements can raise conversion rates by up to 33%.
“You only get one chance to create a good first impression,” as the adage goes. This motto has recently been disregarded by brands. If your website creates even the tiniest sense of doubt, you’ve already lost the sale.
However, establishing trust with smart web design extends beyond simply obtaining new clients. Many customers, for example, use a brand’s website to research a product before purchasing it – and to assist them in making a decision while shopping.
Customers that lack trust will not only refuse to make a purchase, but will also tell others about their unpleasant experiences and possibly submit negative reviews. Other clients who are unsure about the brand’s credibility will seek up these evaluations, leading them to choose a competitor.
Building a trustworthy brand and website, on the other hand, does not have to take years. You can improve the trust-building process by making a few simple modifications to your website design.
This article discusses five ways that a smart web design can help you develop brand trust.
Layout & Web Design
It’s amazing how many businesses overlook the importance of layout and web design in establishing trust. Your website is an excellent opportunity to make a positive first impression on your potential customers.
According to a study, 94% of clients have shown mistrust in the site’s design aspects. Only 6% of those polled said their distrust stemmed from the site’s content. As a result, the most crucial factor in determining users’ perceptions of trustworthiness is web design and style.
The Stanford Web Credibility Project, for example, discovered that web design had a significant subconscious impact on consumers’ trust in the information on a firm’s website—and, by implication, in the brand itself. In their poll, 46% of respondents said they judged the legitimacy of a website based on its overall design, which includes features like typography, layout, and color schemes.
Note: If your design is clumsy and outdated, and navigating is difficult, you’re not off to a great start in earning client trust. Your website must load quickly and be responsive across all devices like mobile phones, desktop, and much more. A well-designed website should be simple to navigate and developed by keeping the user in the mind.
Credibility Indicators
The context of your target audience and your performance determine the credibility of your website. Every time a new client views your website, most of us are fighting an uphill credibility struggle.
If the goal is to acquire new customers, it’s possible that they won’t be familiar with your brand. Integrating credibility criterias into your site can help you build trust with your visitors, convert them into paying customers, and increase revenue.
Listed below are a few credibility indicators that you can use to build brand trust through your website:
Testimonials
Did you know that 91% of people believe reviews and testimonials are just as trustworthy as personal recommendations?
You’ve probably heard the saying that “actions speak louder than words” a million times. A testimonial from your customer can influence the purchase decisions of others. Including testimonials from your clients, influencers, or other businesses on your website might persuade your potential clients that you can deliver on what the individual claims.
Return Policy
Another indicator of trustworthiness that might boost conversions is the return policy. Make it clear that you may simply return items. The number of new clients you can attract by incorporating a return policy will astound you.
Awards & Recognition
The truth is that adding awards and recognition to your brand’s website will give it legitimacy. You will become more credible and influential as soon as you get authority. Subtly highlight your accomplishments and show your visitors why they can trust you.
Social Connections
Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools for establishing credibility and collecting all inbound data. On various platforms, social media mandates a huge number of your social connections and intended audience reach. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that people care about and participate with your brand.
Note: If you don’t have a large social following or interaction, now is the time to start. Choose a platform that you believe will be the most beneficial to your brand.
Badges of Trust
It might be tough to create brand confidence when so many individuals fall prey to scammers. Signing up for services that provide a certain type of endorsement is another approach to get third parties to vouch for you. Listed below are common badges of trust you can use to build strong customer relationships:
SSL Certificate
SSL certificates are important for customer trust, in addition to encryption and authentication. The easily identifiable signals inform users that the information they provide will be protected.
Note: If your website does not have an SSL certificate, it will affect your google search rankings and lose some trust from more tech-savvy visitors.
Accessible Privacy Policy Page
The goal of your privacy policy page is to inform your users about how their personal information is utilized. As a result, it must be accessible to your users in order for them to have access to this information.
Note: The privacy policy page on your website should be easy and clear to understand.
Contact Page
Your contact page is one of the most important pages. It’s where people will go if they have a query or a problem. And the first impression the website provides can either give them complete confidence in purchasing from you or completely turn them off.
Here are a few simple things you can do on your Contact Page to help your potential and present clients trust you more:
- Include a phone number.
- Make sure your contact form is working.
- Include a map of your location.
- Include your social media profiles.
- Give a clear idea about the response time.
The bottom line is that taking these extra measures offers people comfort in knowing that there is a real location where they may come to talk to you, even if the chances of them doing so are slim.
Use Authentic Imagery & Content
Providing useful, relevant information and genuine photos is a fantastic way for your brand to become an industry leader. Websites with a lot of unique, high-quality content and photographs are the most effective.
Make sure to use the term “you” while writing content or having someone else write it for you. It serves as a placeholder for the reader’s name, which helps build transparency with your message.
Note: You must be transparent with your customers if you want to inspire loyalty and trust. Customers want detailed information that isn’t skewed. They dislike ambiguous language or content that forces them to read between the lines.
The Big Picture
Customers have more options when it comes to choosing between businesses to suffice their wants and needs. In such a setting, brand trust is a critical criterion for success.
At Brand and Beyond, we think that providing client experiences that are tailored to their wants and needs is critical. If you’re in search of a web design agency to help your brand create an online presence that attracts and builds customer trust, we can assist you. Get in touch with our team today and take your brand to another level.
