The Trust Factors
SEO Aware believes you should be focused on creating trust with potential, and current, clients. Web users look at a Web site and in about 3-5 seconds determine if they want to stay or leave.
The appearance of your Web site is the 1st Trust Factor. A professional and/or visually appealing Web site can begin to create trust. I am sure you go to sites that are not as modern or as professional as you would like and as a result you do not trust the site and back out of the site. The look of the Web site is the first chance you have to sell, so we feel having the right look is crucially important. Hire a Web designer that understands webmaster guidelines and has a portfolio of visually appealing websites.
The 2nd Trust Factor really comes from how easy it is to find information within a site and how easy it is to use a Web site. Keep the word “usability” in mind. If a Web user has to search all over and becomes frustrated with the site they will leave. It is your responsibility as a business owner to make the site is as easy to use as possible. People, by nature, will not work harder than they have to and often it is easier to just leave a Web site and find one that is easy to navigate. Irritation does not increase trust in your company.
The 3rd Trust Factor comes from the text. Web design is not just about the Web site, but also how easy it is to find and be able to read the text. The text needs to be as visually attractive as everything else. When Web designers contact me about writing text for clients I always ask to see the look of the site. I plan the text around the room I will have to write. I try to create eye-pleasing text to enhance the attractiveness and usability of the site.
Think of a cake; when you are thinking about buying a cake you are looking at the appearance. Would you want a cake where the “Happy Birthday” is too hard to read or off to the side where it doesn’t fit? Your Web site is not different; it is the outside beauty that sells what is within- your services and products.
So, those are SEO Aware’s 3 Basic Trust Factors of Web Design. If you cannot create trust through the Web you are not going to make money. FYI, I didn’t focus on text that sells because that is not the focus of this post; the right kind of Web site is. Today all business can obtain an affordable and attractive Web site. Please feel free to contact me if you need a Web site and are unsure of your options.
Melissa Fach- SEOAware.com