Here is how you build a trustworthy ecommerce site, part one

You probably heard more about security breaches in 2014 than any other year. High profile businesses like Sony were attacked, and their reputations suffered. Vulnerabilities like the Heartbleed affected tens of millions of people in America alone. In fact, it happened so often that Forbes referred to 2014 as the year of the data breach.

Although every breach was different, in one way the result was the same: consumers feel less safe about ecommerce. Even savvy online shoppers are becoming increasingly careful about which websites they visit and which they buy from—and it mostly comes down to trust.

Inside this guide you’ll find everything you need to know to make sure customers trust your website and buy from you.

1. Your Design Tells A Story

What are the first things you notice when you meet someone new? Are they well groomed? Do they have a smile on their face? Are they approachable? Similarly, to set the right tone, your website needs to send the right message to online shoppers *the instant *they land on your website. Most importantly, they need to know that you and your company are legitimate.

What are some crucial design principles to keep in mind?

Your site should clearly state its purpose, load quickly, and be easily navigable. The colors should contrast so your text and product images pop.

Above all, the design should be clean and simple—easy to skim for actionable information. Your customers should know what you do and how they can do business with you—without excess copy.

Speaking of copy, it’s crucial that your site be written the way actual human beings think and speak. Remember to go light on the brand-speak and buzz words, and keep the tone conversational.

2. More Accessible = More Trustworthy

Maybe you’re a known, reputable retail company who’s just moving your store online or maybe you’re new to retail and your store is only online. Or maybe you just want to be more trustworthy. Whatever your motivation, you can implement some or all of these methods to show your company is aboveboard.

People want to know there’s a legitimate business behind an ecommerce website, and an easy (and great) way to do that is to appear accessible.

In the next installment, we’ll show you a few examples of how to do just that.