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As an online business owner it is only human nature to make mistakes such as thinking like a brick and mortar store owner. If you owned a brick and mortar storefront, customers would walk through the door and you would be able to greet them. They would see other shoppers in your store. Online is much more impersonal, which generates doubt in the minds of many visitors. They cannot see you behind the register nor can they see the others shopping at your store.

Think about this for a second...

How many times have you passed a new restaurant that has just opened their doors for business and noticed people lined out the door waiting to be seated? You think to yourself, heck we need to try that place! This is because you see everyone there!

Since visitors to your site cannot see anyone else, you need to add some credibility to increase your website sales.

Testimonials & Reviews:

First, if you do not already have testimonials or reviews of your products on your site, now would be a good time to add some. You can check with past customers and ask them to write something in their own words to express their experience shopping with you. You could even throw in a bonus such as a percentage off their next order should they submit one you can use. This is a double bonus for you, getting you some testimonials as well as extra sales!

Business Address:

Next is the way you can be contacted. Most websites have a contact form whereby visitors can submit an email to the store owner. That is where the contact begins and ends.

Add a business address to your website. If you work from home, you will want a second address to use as many do not wish to use their home address. Go to your local Post office or better yet your local UPS store since you can use "suite number" rather than "box number."

Toll Free Number:

This is where many businesses fail to capitalize fearing the cost of having their own toll free number is too expensive. In reality a toll free number is not expensive at all these days and can actually offer lower rates than some people are charged for their outgoing calls by their long distance companies!

Many websites offer a regular phone number, perhaps even their home phone number; however, potential customers can be reluctant to call long distance, especially during the hard economic times currently upon us. These sites also lack giving their visitors the impression of being a professional business.

I personally use three separate toll free numbers for my online businesses. The cost is minimal and outweighed by the increased sales I receive from those hesitant to place an order until they call and talk with a live human being free of charge!

The system I use offers the same features as a PBX system large corporations utilize without the fancy price tag as well as a free 14-day test drive! This enables you to give the appearance of being a larger corporation to your potential customers.

So there you go in a nutshell. If you add the previously listed criteria, you are bound to see increased sales and follow-up sales while building stronger relationships with your customer base!

Good Luck in Your Online Adventures

Bruce

Keywords: credibility, website sales, website credibility, pbx, toll free, toll free number, business toll free

About the Author
Bruce Galle, Easley, SC, USA