subject: Build A Credible Website From The Ground Up [print this page] Because spammers have ruined the internet marketplace for the legitimate operators, many businesses have to continually worry about their credibility online. People are overly cautious when it comes to making purchases or even surfing the internet for information because they are afraid of hitting a site that contains viruses or maleware. If you are seriously thinking about building a website, then you really need to go to great lengths to set yourself apart from the rest so that people think you are the only trusted source of whatever it is you are trying to sell or suggest, and it all starts with a good domain name.
People love .com and .org addresses, and when you select your domain name, pay the extra couple of dollars to get one of these extensions. Additionally, select a name that will tie your site in with you or what you are offering so that people will make a positive association in the future. Aside from a good domain name, you should also have a site layout that is easy to navigate while being descriptive enough that people will always understand what they are getting into when they visit your site. You don't have to flood your pages with information, but you should always be honest and direct so that there are no surprises at the end.
When you market your site, don't make false claims or empty promises, and try to avoid the hype language that is commonly associated with spam. Be yourself, professional, legitimate, honest and direct when you are advertising and making offers. The more straightforward you are now, you will reap the rewards of loyal visitors and new traffic all the time because of the online reputation you are building.
Keeping pop up ads to a minimum and strategically placing other ads within your page is also important. Pages that are loaded with pop-ups and other ads seem spammy and they are incredibly annoying for visitors, which will lead to less credibility and a poor reputation. If you run ads, do it tastefully and in a way that will not interfere with what you are trying to do with your site.
Keeping things honest is important, whether you are a new company or one that has been around for a while, and the internet consumer will demand product assurance and save shopping as well. You should always have a simple and direct return policy as well as a credit card processing system that is well known and trusted by consumers. The mere fact you are using these services will add legitimacy to your site, which is one of the most valuable assets any online business has.
There are many resources available that you can use to get the best site up and running for your needs and ambitions, but none of them can replace your reputation. Starting from day one, make sure that you are using reliable services that your customers will appreciate.
