Article Title: How to Build Credibility Online
Shared by: Craig Lock
Category (Key Words): internet marketing, Internet, www, online marketing, writing, writing articles, world wide web, cyberspace
Web sites: http://www.creativekiwis.com/books.html#craig and www.lulu.com/craiglock
The submitter's blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22&t=post and http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 (Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

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HOW TO BUILD CREDIBILITY ONLINE

I find this a most interesting and somewhat complex subject, as there has to be TRUST in any business relationship before any exchange is
made. This can be quite difficult to achieve, when you have never met your customer (prospect) face to face in another part of the
country...or even the world. Having been on the www over twelve years, here are a few pointers that we find helpful in the online sales process:

(Please excuse the "CAPS". I'm not "shouting", but merely trying to make key words stand out.)

1. Have your OWN DOMAIN NAME (not expensive - less than $20 a year from 000Domains.com. We have consolidated (big word, eh!)
our web sites and now have two of them at:
http://www.creativekiwis.com/ and http://www.craiglockbooks.com

2. Offer GUARANTEES (money-back) on your products or services.

N.B:

3. Emphasise transaction SECURITY in the form of a secure payment system and a secure server.

4. OFFER TESTIMONIALS

5. Have a PRIVACY POLICY for your online business. Offer a Privacy Statement

6. Have CONTACT INFO on your web site. People then know to get hold of you, if they want further info... or if there is a problem (they do occur from time to time, but a problem is only an opportunity in disguise!).

7. Offer a BRIEF BIO - a little bit about yourself and how you are qualified to offer your product or service. This builds trust in your abilities.

8. Have a FEEDBACK FORM on your web site for visitors comments about possible improvements. Make your web site USER FRIENDLY!

9. BE YOURSELF, YET BE PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR WRITING (on your web site). Just be YOU, when writing script on your website or in
your ezine articles . Ensure the information is accurate - write with absolute integrity and honesty. Also suggest using a bit of HUMOUR in your writing. I try to use a "dollop", as I believe reading a computer screen is not a very exciting pastime (except to "geeks"). It's also a sedentary (big word) activity; so the least I can do for our site visitors, as a reward, is attempting informing and trying to entertain at the same time with doses of
my "rather strange/wacky/ zany" humour. Hopefully it works and gets appreciated (without people thinking I'm too much of a "looney")!

10. Use proper grammar and punctuation (with the right "case") and avoid misspelling. This makes you appear to be "professional"- in your writing and in your "appearance"... and image is EVERYTHING on the www.

11. Avoid using slang. Remember, the Internet is global and your "funny language" might offend other cultures. For example, I've learnt to avoid using the word "Yank"!

12. Send all marketing email to yourself first as a test. Check the layout, spelling and grammar...to see how it looks in your prospective client's eyes - ie. on THEIR computers.

13. Think before you re-act to an abusive message. "Strike in haste and repent in leisure (I've done that a few times - not that I get many negative messages!). My advice...leave the message in your "in-box" for a day. Then look at it after you have calmed down...and decide whether it is worthy of a response - will it change anything? Perhaps the sender is just having a disasterous day and after deliberation, you can send a word of
kindly encouragement in your "carefully composed" reply. (The subconscious mind will help you in this).

14. Really CARE about people and treat them with respect as fellow human 'beans'. We all have frailties and are vulnerable at times. More
times than at others. We can get all what WE want in life through helping other people get what THEY want (thanks Zig Zigler)...

and finally, and most importantly...

15. "GIVE AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE." GIVE FREE INFORMATION ... AND YOU WILL SURELY RECEIVE FAR MORE IN RETURN. (Everybody has unique knowledge and expertise in certain areas - specialised skills, which can help others through SHARING). This is the basis of "the Golden Rule", the Law of Giving, which is the basis of all the religions of the world (I think!).

Become a "busy internet marketing bee" in building your online credibility and so making a name for yourself in the "vast unchartered world of cyberspace".

Follow all these steps and people then will be attracted to your web site (and regular TRAFFIC is THE BASIS/KEY FOR/TO SALES),
like bees to a honey-pot (that's a simile, by the way!).

Here's to finding your "pot of gold" at the end of the internet marketing "rainbow".*

* that's a metaphor, BTW

Craig Lock ("Incorrigible Encourager and Dreaming Infopreneur")

"Give a man* a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to use the Internet and he won't bother you for months...or
perhaps even years!"
* However, I presume this principle also applies to our 'more sensible' women-folk. Sorry men!

"Strive not to be a person of success; but rather a person who tries to add value to others"

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you get rid of him every weekend."

PPS: As they carry me to my deathbed, I'll be saying: "Lord, Can you just give me one more hour to finish off one last article. PLEASE!"

- craig (as inspired by the quote of singer, Barry Manilow)

Author's Bio: 

About the Author:
Craig has been marketing products online for the past twelve years. He is a writer, who believes in sharing information with a 'dash' of humour, as well as encouraging and helping others to find their talents and gifts, to strive for and accomplish their dreams in life - whatever they may be.

The various books* that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at http://www.creativekiwis.com/books.html#craig and www.lulu.com/craiglock

* Hard copies and e-books - fiction and non-fiction: self help, personal growth, inspiration, travel, humour, novels and money books.

The submitter's blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22&t=post and http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Uplifting, encouraging and empowering people through the power of words and thought energy. Change YOUR world and you help change THE world."