The Essential Christmas Web-Store Makeover

Ten great tips to turn online holiday shoppers into eager buyers - and satisfied customers. It's all about building trust. Following these tips will improve online credibility and create more satisfied shoppers.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) November 17, 2004 -- Ten great tips to turn online holiday shoppers into eager buyers - and satisfied customers.

Internet shoppers look for clues (consciously or not) that suggest you are credible and professional -- and they make that judgment call inside of a minute or two. That means a online stores have a small window of time to impress would-be buyers and gain their trust. Unlike in person, however (where you can apologize for tardiness or charm customers with funny tales about how that mustard landed on your lapel) web sites have zero opportunity to redeem themselves online. One click and the customer is gone for good. The problem is only getting worse according to a recent study by DoubleClick that found more online shoppers are abandoning their shopping carts this year than during the same period last year.

As Web-goers gear up for their Christmas shopping sprees, there are things web-store owners can do quickly and easily to inspire confidence. Trust Enabling Strategies timely article, entitled "The Essential Christmas Web-Store Makeover", identifies some surefire ways to turn browsers into buyers and buyers into regular customers:

1.    Put on your best Web-suit - A lack of attention to detail sends a message, however untrue, that you will be equally careless in your business dealings.

2.    Put your best logo forward - Provide familiar visual clues on your site, such as well-known brand names and logos.

3.    Proudly wear your credentials - If you have attained a standard of excellence or have met minimum certification requirements, such as for service or security, let customers know about it.

4.    Pass out your virtual business card - Make sure your contact information is visible and indicate all the ways that you may be reached -- including your physical business address.

5.    Dont be a Grinch - Offer freebies (such as trial software, free advice, money-back guarantees, etc...).

6.    Insure and assure customers - The single most effective thing you can do to build customer confidence in the short-term and transform reluctant shoppers into spenders is to provide a third-party insurance policy.

7.    Deal with privacy matters - Shoppers now know that inappropriate use of their personal information can be devastating.

8.    Be transparent - Your website should include easily accessible information on why your store is a safe place to shop.

9.    Hold the customers hand - Once the customer is ready to buy, walk them through each step of the online purchasing process.

10.    Offer a personal touch - For higher value transactions, provide a 24- hour toll-free telephone number - with prompt, friendly service.

At the end of the day, its all about building trust. Following these tips will definitely improve your online credibility and create more satisfied shoppers at your site." says Alex Todd, President, Trust Enabling Strategies. The article is available for downloading from www.TrustEnablement.com/Web-store_Makeover.html.

Alex Todd is founder and president of Trust Enabling Strategies, a Toronto-based management-consulting firm that helps online businesses to improve sales by developing confidence-building processes. He can be reached at www.TrustEnablement.com.

Resource Box

For additional information contact: Alex Todd, founder and president of Trust Enabling Strategies at www.TrustEnablement.com/Web-store_Makeover.html

About Trust Enabling Strategies

Trust Enabling Strategies is a Toronto-based management-consulting firm that helps online businesses to improve sales by developing confidence-building processes.

Contact Information:

Trust Enablement Incorporated

Alex Todd

Tel. 416-487-1497

Fax. 866-271-5372

http://www.trustenablement.com/

Attention Ezine Editors / Site Owners

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include the information contained in our resource box above.

###