In some ways, the Internet can be compared to the Wild Wild West. (Where do you think 'WWW' the acronym came from?) There is no real central authority in charge and many scam artists take full advantage of it. Especially as a small business owner without a big company name behind his own, building credibility in the minds of potential customers becomes crucial.

Here are seven ways to build your credibility online.

1. You may find it beneficial to place the image (including a smugshot) on its website.

the brick and mortar stores have the advantage because the employee has a direct conversation, face to face with the customer. It is therefore easier to "connect" and build a relationship.

I recently read an interesting thread on a marketing board forum post with more people giving their opinion on the pros and cons of putting your picture on your site. Most of the fears were that people can be turned off by the ethnicity of the owner. Although this is a real fear I think the best reaction I've read on this point came from a small business owner Italo-American. She said she did not want to do business with someone who was biased against him anyway - I said to myself - Solved "

Your photo helps your visitors to reach all the great abyss of the Internet and feel of its customers - from their monitors. Why do you think that cell phone customers are changing their "old phone" for the new talk-a-me-see-me-in-the-same-time "models?

2. Provide an audio message in your own voice.

This is closely linked to the forelimb. Everything is about feeling connected and human. There are computers - they just use them. We have emotions and use them to communicate. There is nothing that can communicate emotions as the human voice.

I can still remember fondly the days before my family could afford a TV. Because children often listened to radio dramas. You were there in the middle of the action. 'The RRRRanger Loooooonee! "The galloping horses, the crackle of gunfire ... trust me, you were there. It smelled gunpowder and led the horses!

What can you use your voice to do? At least you can say: "There is a real person behind this website." In this age of ours automated counts.

3. Place your physical address and contact information on each page.

Again, being transparent and open air on their identity and how you can be contacted. You have nothing to hide, and you do not intend to take their money and shut down its web site the next day.

His guidance also adds a sense of structure for very fluid environment of the Internet. Is very similar to the signal in a brick and mortar store - this is where I'm located. That is why a PO box is not enough.

Can be reached by fax, phone, email and mobile phone? This information adds to his credibility, not to mention the perceived availability.

4. Do not use a free email or hosting service to your main site.

Closely linked to the credibility of the perceptions that are created for your business. Some say that the company image is everything. It may be that having a little too far, but you are not who you think you are, but what the customer perceives that you are!

If you use a free email service like hotmail.com What does that say about you? You are so successful, but they can not even afford a paid email service? Most spammers use these free email accounts anyway - that is another count against you. It may be better to use the account associated with the domain of your site for payment. I think most of web hosting services offer POP mail accounts.

5. Having an 'about' page.

When an Internet user on your site for the first time is like going on a blind date. The visitor may have heard a little about yourself and know where you are but it is practically only the windows. The page 'About' gives a good opportunity to get a quick background check on you. Then you can tell if you are the one really wants to build a relationship with.

The information that you should put on this page include:
- A personal biography and professional
- Maybe a picture of himself
- Name, address and telephone number,
- The objectives of your company
- A complete description of you and your company.

Knowing this "scheme" which are places the visitor at ease and most disappear with nervous anxiety luck. Why? She is not afraid to have it checked.

6. "Privacy Statement" Include a file.

Internet users are increasingly sensitive to how their personal information is being used. This makes it almost imperative for you to provide a page to its privacy policy.

general interest to be addressed are:
* How to use the information collected.
* Is the information shared with a third party?
* Let them know how you can choose any mailing list to register for.
* Why tracking your IP address.

7. Use customer testimonials and unsolicited comment.

What you say about your product or service is not really taken seriously. I mean what was expected to say anyway? It is the product ... duh. Which carry the most weight are the opinions of other experts in their field. But what has the greatest weight is what customers tell them.

This means that you can get instant credibility if you requested the testimony of satisfied customers. These statements must be accompanied with the email address or website and the customer's full name. The less information you give to the client that is providing the testimony of the less credible it is. I have had contact with visitors in reality these customers to confirm that the testimonies were real.

So the testimonials pour in - too much is not enough.

There it was. Use these strategies to help build your credibility online and more customers willing to open their wallets and their hearts.