Updated: 22nd November, 2023 Badges and honours have always been coveted in societies since time immemorial. They show that the recipient or the holder of these accolades has proven his worth in the field. They also validate the succeeding claims that a person or group of persons ever make. The same is the case with […]
Updated: 22nd November, 2023
Badges and honours have always been coveted in societies since time immemorial. They show that the recipient or the holder of these accolades has proven his worth in the field. They also validate the succeeding claims that a person or group of persons ever make. The same is the case with trusted badges and stickers in the online world.
Today, there are millions of online websites claiming to provide some sort of service or product to their visitors, while thousands of new websites get added to the roster every day – claiming the same thing. This creates a vacuum for consumers that sellers try to fill with trust-building and reliability-inducing measures. Trusted badges are the modern link to this chain!
If you are a business owner with a thriving online presence, you would understand that the competition is harder and stiffer than ever. Consumers are wary of the marketing materials and provide only negative feedback unless they are requested and approached to leave a positive word.
So, how does a business get to reap the rewards from consumer trust?
A trust badge or seal is a mark of trust that is awarded to businesses from the regulatory actors in the field or the major players that command the trust of a large online population. Traditionally, trust badges would come to the fore when a consumer was checking out. This was to reassure them that they were making the right decision. However, these badges and seals are popping up right on the homepages of businesses these days.
These trust badges often assure the security of data collected through cookies and survey forms, financial information through payment gateways, and so on.
There is no limit to what a right trust badge placed at a strategic spot on a website can do for both the business and the consumer. Of course, this statement was rhetorical because experts have devised and quantified the effects of collecting and consolidating trusted badges.
In this section, we will cover the benefits of earning a badge and then putting it to use for customer acquisition and retention.
Competition is the most ruthless force acting on businesses and brands in the online world. From connecting with the prospects to producing quality goods, there are many ways a brand can stand out from the competition. But the potential recipients must be able to see and appreciate that in the end to trust the brand. Trusted badges solve this issue for businesses trying to pass through tricky waters. Customers come to know and appreciate that they are indeed trusted and validated by major and renowned industry names.
Conversion is the fulfilment of the goal. Depending on the brand and its way of conducting business, conversion can be filling out and submitting a survey or making a purchase through online payment gateways. When a brand has integrated trusted badges from reliable sources, it becomes easy and quite natural for visitors to make transactions with the brand. With the fulfilment of the goal, the rates of conversion can be measured. Surveys have repeatedly shown that businesses with embedded trusted badges come to turn out with better conversion rates.
When a business has more conversions, it directly affects the revenue streams and volumes of that business. Trusted badges are sought-after because they cast the recipient brand in a better light compared to its competitors. Since this is the ultimate goal of businesses is to improve and diversify revenue, they must fulfil this requirement for their prospects. That’s why these badges or seals are considered a game-changer for businesses working out in the virtual world.
Depending on the purpose and meaning, there are major five categories of trusted badges. When businesses are considering the opportunity costs of picking one over the other, they can rest assured that they can use one from all types on their website at the same time. Still, they need to make their goals clear before pursuing one or the other.
Safe checkout has become an absolute need for businesses operating in the virtual world. The major player in this category is the Secure Socket Layer (SSL). It is a certificate that shows the consumers that the internet connection between the consumer and the seller is encrypted. Consumers can add their financial information to complete the purchase with peace of mind.
This is another seal of trust that can let businesses forge lasting relations with their customers. This badge assures the customers that they can exchange or return the product or item without paying more or losing what they have already paid. They can also enjoy free shipping with no additional, hidden fees. The best place to put these badges is around the checkout or add-to-cart buttons.
Familiarity is everything for an online shopper. When they see a new brand, it takes more than a while to trust it and place their orders. However, when they have payment badges from familiar names, such as Amex, VISA, MasterCard, and PayPal, they can move forward with their purchase without thinking twice. Even experts have iterated often that having a trusted badge for payments opens many avenues for businesses.
Endorsement badges are the hardest to get and showcase because they are provided through an application and review process. Many organizations have established themselves as reliable pillars in the industry. Industry players, on the other hand, seek their approval through badges. The most common types of endorsement badges come from Better Business Bureau, Google Customer Reviews, and so on.
Customers want to secure their interests while shopping online. They look for legal and economic avenues to ensure that they are covered from all possible threats. When a business has a money-back guarantee badge, this is the epitome of customer trust and reliability. Another great thing about this badge is that you can make it yourself and make sure that it matches the brand’s theme and outlook.
Since we have laid the ground for the effectiveness and reach of the free trust badges, it is time to seek some of those that do not cost a fortune. Let us take a look at some of the trust seals that can be acquired free of cost.
If you are willing to splurge some cash to acquire esteemed badges with monthly or yearly premiums, there are a handful that are worth the money. Otherwise, these three free rides will help you climb the customer index.
Shopify is a force to reckon with in the online shopping and retail space. It is considered to be one of the largest eCommerce platforms that help businesses with their site management and optimization. When a business has a virtual storefront, it is only natural to have a badge from the best-awarding company. The basic single badge is free. But if you want to crowd your website with more than one seal, and that in different styles and looks, Shopify will be happy to oblige for a price. The incorporation process is simple as you
PayPal is considered a giant among the online payment gateways in the virtual world. It was founded in the late 90s and since then, it has reigned over the international payment scenario with no real competitor. There are some regional competitors and niche threats but nothing more disruptive. If your online business accepts payments through this gateway, you can get a free badge, either in the form of a PNG or the one that can be embedded in the code.
TrustLock.co is another familiar name in the online world for security and brand endorsement measures. The company has a wide range of badges and seals for businesses, both in function and form. Since we are talking about the free badges, you can procure one from the company by simply adding it to your site and then linking it back to their homepage. However, there is a catch with free ones – they do not have the logo of the company. To acquire that, you need to pay a small premium that will give you complete access to their badge inventory.
Local enterprises often struggle with conversion and sales. They have already a limited net of prospects who are looking for better and cheaper alternatives. This is the case with both small and medium businesses.
There are many ways to instil a sense of trust and reliability in customers. These include having an active online presence through social media handles as well as collaborations with local influencers. However, it can be costly and strain the already repleted cash reserves. In the face of this adversity, trust badges and seals can be a game-changer. They can achieve the following benefits through trust badges which also highlight their importance:
Through this route, they can direct the customers to safely complete a transaction without leaving their full cart.
Of course! Whether you are a small business with a limited volume of online sales or a retail giant in the virtual giant, these badges are certificates that can help businesses gain the trust of prospects and customers.
The following are the best badges in the market right now:
Shopify offers free badges to businesses that are powered through their CMS. There are more than six hundred badges to choose from. You can either drag and drop or embed those in the code. One badge is free but you need to pay extra.
There are two ways to add trust badges to your product pages:
Shopify trust badges are the seals of approval or trust provided to sellers who use services from the eCommerce giant. These are extremely familiar to online users because they can identify with them knowing that the seller is trustworthy.
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