7 Tips for a Credible Website

What makes a website credible? This is a question that both companies and consumers need to consider. With 18.5 million websites infected with malware at a given time, companies need to be sure they are building safe sites. Meanwhile, consumers are risking the loss of their personal data any time they make a purchase on a site that's not secure.

The Anatomy of a Credible Website

Can you name all the factors that make this website credible? What do you look for in a website?

A survey done by Panda Security asked 1,000 Americans what the most important credibility factor is. Their responses showed that nearly a third (29 percent), looked at the website URL to make sure it was safe.

Those who were in the age group that was 25 years old and below cited testimonials and reviews as the most important factor.

These are just two of the seven factors that make a website credible. Keep reading to find out what seven credibility factors you should note when you're creating or visiting a website.

Seven Tips For Checking If A Website Is Safe

1. Look for a Safe URL

As mentioned above, many people look to the URL when deciding if they should trust a website. But, what should you look for in a URL?

Safe URLs will first and foremost be spelled correctly. Many fraudulent sites use URLs that are similar to real familiar sites, but have one or two letters wrong.

For example, Facebook.com could be changed to Faceb0ok.com. Changing the letter into a number is not always immediately noticeable, so many people will continue entering personal information, thinking it's the original site.

Another thing to note is if the URL is secured. If it is, it will have https in front of it and some sort of sign such as a lock symbol. While this might not verify the whole site is safe, it is a good place to start when deciding if the site should be trusted.

2. Be Sure the Website Appearance Looks Good

Websites that look sketchy usually are. If someone is investing in the appearance of their site, they are usually investing in its security as well.

In addition, the spelling and grammar on the site should be correct. If it has many typos and noticeable errors, it could be a sign that the site is fake or a scam.

3. Look At The Methods of Payment

In order to complete a purchase, an e-commerce site will need to collect your payment. In this digital age there are many payment methods out there. Be sure that the site offers some common and familiar methods. These include but are not limited to Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. If there is only one unfamiliar method of payment offered, the site could be a scam.

4. Find the Trust Seal

Another factor that will tell you if a site is credible is the trust seal. These are badges that show up on a purchase page to verify that the page is working to keep your information safe. You have probably seen these before without knowing what they were. Some common ones include those from PayPal, Better Business Bureau, and Verisign.

These badges add credibility to a site, so if you are working on your own e-commerce website, consider adding one of these.

5. Consider the Contact Information

Any website that you purchase from should have contact information. This should include a point of contact, address, phone number and email. Not only is this important information if you need to make a return or report an issue, but it will verify that the business is legitimate.

6. Privacy Policy is Located At Bottom of Page

Privacy policies are legally required if a site collects information. There is usually a section on the bottom right corner of the homepage that mentions a privacy policy.

If the website you are visiting doesn't have one, it's an indication that it's not up to code with the law. If it's missing this factor, you probably shouldn't be entering in any personal information on the site.

7. Read Through Testimonials and Reviews

Last but not least, you should ensure that others have had a positive experience purchasing on the website. Many sites will host review sections. For others, you may need to look up the company on Google to see what people have to say. Be sure to look at reviews that are recent and take note of any complaints that others have.

If you are creating an e-commerce site, having people review your product is a good way to make your site more credible. Consider adding a review section in an easily accessible location so viewers don't have to hunt for it.