How To Build Credibility Online (Up-dated)

Article Title: How to Build Credibility Online (Up-dated)
Author: Craig Lock
Category/Subject: Internet Marketing, WWW
Web Sites: http://www2.webng.com/write
z/ and nhttp://www.craiglockbooks.com
Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.htmln(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, words of inspiration and money management)

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We hope that the following article may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then we're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."n *
How to Build Credibility Online (Up-dated)

I find this a most interesting and somewhat complex subject, as there has to be TRUST in any business relationship before any exchange is made. This can be quite difficult to achieve, when you have never met your customer (prospect) face to face in another part of the country...or even the world.

Having been on the www about a decade (thanks to my clever "technogeek" friends), here are a few pointers that we find helpful in the online sales process:

1. Have your OWN DOMAIN NAME (not expensive - less than $20 anyear from 000Domains.com.

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 TESTIMONIALS from satified customers.

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... and makes you a "real person".

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 web site). Just be YOU, when writing copy on your website or in your ezine articles . Ensure the information is accurate and timely - writing with absolute integrity and honesty. Also suggest using a bit of HUMOUR in your writing. I try to use a "dollop", as I believe reading a computer screen is not a very exciting pastime (except to "geeks"). It's also a sedentary (big word) activity; so the least I can do for our site visitors, as a reward, is attempting informing and trying to entertain at the same time with doses of my "rather strange/wacky/ zany" humour. Hopefully it works and gets appreciated.

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"... nand image is EVERYTHING on the www. n
11. Avoid using slang. Remember, the Internet is global and your "funny language" might offend other cultures. For example, I've learnt to avoid using the word "Yank", after someone pointed out to me that it could be seen to be offensive to some southerners!

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. Also re-read to check for "typo" errors and the flow of your words ("arty/farty writer types" call this rhythm and cadence, btw). n
13. Think before you re-act to an abusive message. "Strike innhaste and repent in leisure ("Impulsive" I've done that a few times - not that 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 response:
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 about people and treat them with respect as fellow human 'beans'. Like you'd like to be trated!
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 ...
AND YOU WILL SURELY RECEIVE FAR MORE IN RETURN. (Everybody has unique knowledge and expertise in certain areas - specialised skills, which can help others through SHARING). This is "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 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

Eagle Productions NZ ("Infopreneurs, Incorrigible Encouragers and People-builders")

"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 is a writer, who believes in sharing information with a 'dash' of humour, as well as encouraging and helping others tonfind their talents and gifts, to strive for and accomplish thei
goals and dreams in life - whatever they may be.nhttp://www.craiglockbooks.comnhttp://www2.webng.com/write
z/ and www.lulu.com/craiglockn
THIS ARTICLE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHEDn