Search Engine Optimization

All the SEO in the world won’t help your website if it doesn’t have credibility. Websites that lack credibility have difficulty converting browsers into buyers because it’s impossible sell to people who don’t trust you. In order for your website’s SEO campaign to be effective in the long run, you need to focus on building a high quality internet presence that both search engines and people trust. Here are 10 tips for doing so.

1. Write high quality content

If writers in India are churning out articles for your website at $3 a page, visitors to your site aren’t going to think it’s credible. Bad grammar, bad spelling, and blatant misinformation will hurt your reputation and make people distrust your brand. Focus on quality over quantity and hire a professional writer to produce compelling content for your site. Content creation isn’t an expense – it’s an investment.

2. Include your physical address

Search engines, directory editors, and website visitors will look for a physical address on your site to evaluate its credibility.

3. Privacy policy

Along with your physical address and phone number, don’t forget to include a privacy policy in the footer of your website! A privacy policy is a signal of trustworthy website.

4. Build a social media presence

Make an effort to build a following on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites. Once you have a decent number of fans and followers, display your social media profiles on your website and invite visitors to connect with you. By displaying your social media profiles, you are showing potential buyers that there are real people behind your brand and that others listen to what you have to say.

5. Display the number of RSS feed subscribers you have

People are more likely to trust you if you have a large following. So, if your website has a blog and you develop a healthy base of RSS feed subscribers, display your subscriber count in a prominent area of your website.

6. State your qualifications

Do you have a degree or certification in your field? State all relevant qualifications that you have in your “About” page. In addition, if you’re a member of a relevant organization or club, mention it in your bio.

7. Limit advertisements

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make a buck or two with ads on your website, but not at the expense of your website visitors’ trust. Avoid plastering your website with ads. Feature only a limited number of quality ads that are highly relevant to your industry.

8. Have your website designed by a professional

Nothing screams “amateur” more than a generic template website. If you want your website to look trustworthy and reputable, have a professional customize its design for you.

9. Include a photo of yourself

Get a professional photo taken of yourself and your employees to increase the credibility of your site. People are more likely to trust your site if they know what the people behind it look like.

10. Update your website on a regular basis

Update your website’s content on a regular basis to show visitors that you stay on top of what’s happening in your industry. Static websites don’t seem as credible as dynamic websites because they look abandoned.