When it comes to running a successful ecommerce business, offering first-rate products is just the tip of the iceberg. Even if your products are truly first-rate, no one will want to buy them if they don't trust your company. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to establish trust through an ecommerce platform, and most of them are incredibly simple. By brushing up on the basics of building and maintaining trust in B2B ecommerce and putting these techniques to work, you can reach new heights of success. Professional Design If you've ever landed on a poorly designed site, you already know how disconcerting it can be. ecommerce sites that are outdated or that simply don't have very polished looks don't instill much confidence in those who land on them. In addition to looking professional and sleek, your site should load quickly. People won't wait around if your site doesn't load in a heartbeat. Sites with professional design will perform much better. Prominent contact Information Nothing raises red flags quite like being unable to find contact information for an ecommerce business. This gives people the impression that your company will do little or nothing if something goes wrong. In addition, it makes it nearly impossible for people to inquire about your products, which puts all of your hard work to waste. Optimal Security Identity theft and the hacking of major websites are constantly in the news, so people are more worried about online security than ever. Reassure visitors to your ecommerce site by prominently displaying information about the security steps your company uses to protect them. Invest in top-notch SSL technology, and make sure to post the corresponding badge so visitors know you are putting their security first. Respect Visitors' Privacy To build and maintain trust, you need to drive home the point that you respect your customers' privacy. Only send emails and other correspondence if they have actively opted in to receive them. Create a privacy policy and prominently display it on your website. Make it clear that your company won't collect or use information about its customers without their express consent. Post Reviews and Testimonials No one wants to be a guinea pig, so show prospective customers that your products are up to par by including reviews and testimonials by actual customers. You can gather these reviews and testimonials by politely asking people to send them to you after making a purchase. Most people won't want to, but you should be able to collect a decent number before too long. Let People Connect Faces with Names Nothing instills trust in an ecommerce business more quickly than showing the world that it's run by living, breathing people. All too often, ecommerce sites are little more than nameless, faceless organizations. This tends to make people wary, so go the extra mile by creating an about Us page that includes photos of yourself and other members of your team. This small step will go a long way toward building and maintaining trust. Prioritize "Likes" and Other Social Signals These days, most people are connected to social media in some way. As a result, they often look for "social signals" -- including "likes" on Facebook -- to confirm whether or not a product or business is worth their time. It pays to build a strong social media presence for your business and to prominently display your social signals on your ecommerce site. It may take a while to accumulate a decent number of likes, retweets, +1's and other signals, but the effort will be more than worth it in the long run. Clarity Can Help None of the above steps will do much good if you aren't using a first-rate ecommerce platform. The right platform will help your site plug right along and will demonstrate to customers that your business is trustworthy and reliable. Without a doubt, the Clarity ecommerce platform is among the best options on the market today. contact us now for a free quote or consultation.