How to Build Credibility Online

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How to Build Credibility Online (Up-dated)

I find thisna most interesting and somewhat complex subject, as there has tonbe TRUST in any business relationship before any exchange isnmade. This can be quite difficult to achieve, when you have neve
met your customer (prospect) face to face in another part of thencountry...or even the world. Having been on the www over sevennyears, here are a few pointers that we find helpful in the onlinensales process:

1. Have your OWN DOMAIN NAME (not expensive - less than $20 anyear from 000Domains.com. We have consolidated (big word, eh!) nour web sites and now have three of them at: nhttp://www.craiglock.com nhttp://www.craiglockbooks.com and nhttp://www.bridgeniche.comn
2. Offer GUARANTEES (money-back) on your products or services
N.B:

3. Emphasise transaction SECURITY in the form of a secure paymentnsystem and a secure server.

4. OFFER TESTIMONIALSn
5. Have a PRIVACY POLICY for your online business. Offer anPrivacy Statementn
6. Have CONTACT INFO on your web site. People then know to getnhold of you, if they want further info... or if there is anproblem (they do occur from time to time, but a problem is onlynan opportunity in disguise!).

7. Offer a BRIEF BIO - a little bit about yourself and how younare qualified to offer your product or service. This builds trustnin your abilities.

8. Have a FEEDBACK FORM on your web site for visitors commentsnabout possible improvements... and finally and most importantly,

9. BE YOURSELF, YET BE PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR WRITING (on your webnsite). Just be YOU, when writing script on your website or innyour ezine articles . Ensure the information is accurate - writenwith absolute integrity and honesty. Also suggest using a bit of
HUMOUR in your writing. I try to use a "dollop", as I believenreading a computer screen is not a very exciting pastime (exceptnto "geeks"). It's also a sedentary (big word) activity; so thenleast I can do for our site visitors, as a reward, is attemptingninforming and trying to entertain at the same time with doses ofnmy "rather strange/wacky/ zany" humour. Hopefully it works and gets appreciated n(without people thinking I'm too much of a "looney")!

10. Use proper grammar and punctuation (with the right "case")nand avoid misspelling. This makes you appear to ben"professional"- in your writing and in your "appearance"... andnimage is EVERYTHING on the www. n
11. Avoid using slang. Remember,nthe Internet is global and your "funny language" might offendnother cultures. For example, I've learnt to avoid using the wordn"Yank"!

12. Send all marketing email to yourself first as a test. Checknthe layout, spelling and grammar...to see how it looks in you
prospective client's eyes - ie. on THEIR computers.

13. Think before you re-act to an abusive message. "Strike innhaste and repent in leisure (I've done that a few times - notnthat I get many negative messages!). My advice...leave thenmessage in your "in-box" for a day. Then look at it after younhave calmed down...and decide whether it is worthy of a responsen- will it change anything? Perhaps the sender is just having andisasterous day and after deliberation, you can send a word ofnkindly encouragement in your "carefully composed" reply.n(The subconscious mind will help you in this). n
14. Really CARE aboutnpeople and treat them with respect as fellow human 'beans'.
We all have frailties and are vulnerable at times. Morentimes than at others. We can get all what WE want in life throughnhelping other people get what THEY want (thanks Zig Zigler)...n nand finally,

15. "GIVE AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE." GIVE FREE INFORMATION ... ANDnYOU WILL SURELY RECEIVE FAR MORE IN RETURN. (Everybody has uniquenknowledge and expertise in certain areas - specialised skills,nwhich can help others through SHARING). This is the basis of "the
Golden Rule", the Law of Giving, which is the basis of all thenreligions of the world (I think!).

Become a "busy internet marketing bee" in building your onlinencredibility and so making a name for yourself in the "vast unchartered world of cyberspace".

Follow all these steps and people then will be attracted to you
web site (and regular TRAFFIC is THE BASIS/KEY FOR/TO SALES),nlike bees to a honey-pot (that's a simile, by the way!).

Here's to finding your "pot of gold" at the end of the internetnmarketing "rainbow".*n n * that's a metaphor, BTW

Craig Lock ("Incorrigible Encourager and Infopreneur")nhttp://www.craiglock.comnhttp://www.craiglockbooks.com

"Give a man* a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man nto use the Internet and he won't bother you for months...or nperhaps even years!" n* However, I presume this principle also applies to our 'more sensible' women-folk. Sorry men!

About the Author:
Craig Lock has been marketing products onlinenfor the past seven years. Craig is a writer, who believes innsharing information with a 'dash' of humour, as well as encouraging and helping others to find their talents and gifts, to strive for and accomplish thei
dreams in life - whatever they may be.

The various books that Craig 'felt inspired to write' are available at: http://www.craiglockbooks.com andnhttp://www2.webng.com/write
z/

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