Is your business embracing the multi-platform nature of omnichannel retail? If not, you're missing out on potential customers and a lot of sales.
A recent study done by Google found that 83% of U.S. shoppers who visited a store recently used online search before heading out to the brick-and-mortar location. Even with shoppers who've already planned on purchasing in-store, consumers like to browse and research online before making that final commitment.
A solid online presence or a lackluster approach will push a customer to choose your brand or the competition down the street—thankfully, there are a handful of simple ways you can build your credibility online and keep it a step above the rest.
5 Ways to Boost Your Online Credibility
- Incorporate video
What better way to connect with your audience than by allowing them to see and hear exactly what your brand stands for. As both short- and long-form video continue to dominate the online world, we challenge you to step away from static images and put a friendly face behind your company's name. - Have a secure and user-friendly website
You have about 50 milliseconds to make a great impression on website visitors, don't waste it with a cluttered website and confusing navigation. Think of your website as an extension of your brick-and-mortar store. You want your customers to quickly and easily find what they're looking for and feel safe shopping and providing their sensitive information. - Get social
While your website might be where you work to transform prospects into customers, social media is where you build your community of loyal brand advocates. Use these platforms as a way to connect with your customers, gain trust, and showcase authenticity within your brand. - Showcase previous work
Before committing to their purchase, consumers want to see exactly what they're getting and what others are saying before getting it. Including testimonials and past work on your website and social media platforms highlights transparency within your brand and can put prospective customers at ease. - Create a review monitoring process
Bad reviews happen—it's a fact of life. But how your brand responds to these reviews often times says more than the reviews themselves.
Don't let a bad review from five years ago continue to haunt your company. Set up a monitoring process where you respond to every negative review that comes in—whether it's a simple "we appreciate your feedback and will discuss this with our team" or a longer comment addressing their complaint, people want to see how your brand chooses to react.
These are just a small handful of things your brand can do to build and keep your online credibility. If you're looking for a more in-depth strategy, our marketing experts would love to help create one. Contact us today to get things started!
