5 Credibility Factors To Include On Your Website To Win Your Next Client
Just about anyone can be anything these days.
With online courses and straight ambition to get it done, you don’t need a college degree to be whatever you want to be (except for some more professional roles).
While that is freeing and amazing in our opinion, it also means that there’s a lot of people who say they can do it BUT they aren’t necessarily the best to do it.
That’s why it’s more critical for you to establish your credibility online than ever before. We call those the credibility factors.
What Is A Credibility Factor?
Credibility is “a measure of how believable and trustworthy your marketing is perceived to be” (Unbounce). When you present credibility to your audience, you are helping them hedge their risk in engaging with you. And there are several ways you can accomplish that on your website – the credibility factors – which we’ll cover in this blog.
Why Include Credibility Factors On Your Website
With Nigerian princes and long lost cousins, it’s reasonable to understand why so many people are skeptical. As a business owner, you need to be able to effectively communicate to a stranger what you do and why you are the person or company to hire. And you do that through either certifications or social proof – two of the most popular credibility factors.
Here are a couple reasons why you need to include these factors on your website:
- You are a safe entity to do business with
- You are equipped to do the work with efficiency and quality
- Other people have trusted you
- You are reliable
- You are recognized publicly
Where Should You Put Credibility Factors On Your Website
Depending on your style of website, there are several places that you can place your credibility factors on your website. Those include:
- Directly underneath the hero banner (first section of the page)
- After a call to action
- Before the final call to action
- Where you need a transition
5 Credibility Factors To Include On Your Website
Don’t know where to start? Here are 5 credibility factors to include on your website. You by no means need to include all of these. But try to include at least one factor on each page of your website.
1. Trusted By
If you have been listed as a preferred provider for a well known company or entity, include those logos. When you associate your business with other well known organizations, it communicates to your audience that you took the time to get certified, have good relationships with other providers, and do good work.
2. Credentials
If you have been certified by an authority or certifying organization, include those seals. In addition, you can also include any awards or recognitions that you’ve received.
If you are a newer business and don’t have any of the following factors, this is a great one to include.
3. Social Proof
People do business with people they know, like, and trust. But how do you get them to know, like, or trust you when you’re a complete stranger? You prove to them that you are worthy of them knowing, liking, and trusting you. And you do that by providing social proof.
There are three primary ways that you can display your social proof.
Testimonials
Testimonials or reviews are our favorite ways to display social proof. Even more so than that, you can actually use your customers’ words in your overall marketing. They don’t tell you to speak your customers’ language for nothing.
If you don’t have testimonials, ask for them. Here are a couple of ways we’ve collected reviews:
- Collect feedback at the end of a project, type up the review, and send them an email with the review and platform links
- Send an email campaign to get reviews
- Call them up and ask for it directly
- Offer them a spotlight on your email newsletter or social media platforms in exchange for a testimonial
Case Studies
What better way to prove you can solve a problem than to show how you’ve solved a similar problem before?
Write a brief summary of an issue a customer encountered and how your business provided a solution with positive results. Make sure to drop keywords of the services provided, how your existing processes made it simple, and why your business is always willing to go the extra mile.
Need help summarizing your case studies into meaningful and converting copy? Schedule a discovery call today!
Connections
As an introvert, I’m really good one on one. In group settings, I am the least effective connector. That’s why I often go to networking events with at least 3-5 people beside me. But I learned that even though I did all the work and connected with over 1,200 people over two years, my cold audience had no clue.
So I had to build in marketing that literally proved that I was well connected. This could look like listing my strategic partners, telling client stories, tagging clients and partners on social media, and placing client logos on the site.
4. Press Mentions
If you’ve been mentioned in the press, been a guest on a podcast, or shown up publicly as an authority figure, then yell it from the rooftops. This credibility factor is often shown as the “as seen on” sections. You know the ones with the Good Morning America, Forbes, and Entrepreneur logos.
5. Warranties Or Guarantees
You heard what I said at the beginning of this blog…Credibility hedges risk. When you offer a warranty or guarantee, it also hedges any risk that might come from someone investing in your business.
Need To Spruce Up Your Website Copy?
Your website can be your greatest asset. That’s if it conveys your products, services, solutions, and credibility. But we know that running your business doesn’t leave you with much time to master the art of website copy. That’s where FocusCopy comes in.
We’ve worked with over 80 brands from 4 different countries to take the writing off of entrepreneurs’ and business owners’ plates. Stop thinking about what your website can do for you and start experiencing it. Contact FocusCopy today and get excited to proudly share your caffeinated copy.
