In the digital age, establishing trust with online customers is paramount for businesses to thrive. TrustedSite offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to help organizations build credibility, enhance customer confidence, and ultimately increase conversions and sales.
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What is TrustedSite?
TrustedSite is a leading provider of website certification services that help businesses demonstrate their commitment to security, privacy, and customer satisfaction. By earning TrustedSite certifications, companies can display trustmarks (trust badges) on their websites, assuring visitors that they adhere to industry best practices and prioritize customer experience.
TrustedSite Certifications
TrustedSite offers a range of certifications that businesses can earn by meeting specific criteria. These certifications address various concerns that online shoppers commonly face, such as security, privacy, and customer service. Here are some of the key certifications offered by TrustedSite:
Certified Secure
The Certified Secure certification is one of the most important certifications offered by TrustedSite. To earn this certification, websites undergo a thorough security scan and assessment by TrustedSite’s security experts. The scan checks for various security vulnerabilities, including:
- Malware infections
- Malicious links or code
- Phishing attempts
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities
- SQL injection vulnerabilities
- Other potential security threats
Once a website passes the security scan and is deemed free of vulnerabilities, it is awarded the Certified Secure certification. However, TrustedSite’s security monitoring doesn’t stop there. They continuously monitor certified sites to ensure they remain secure and free from emerging threats. If any security issues are detected, TrustedSite will work with the website owner to address them or rescind the certification if the issues are not resolved promptly.
Verified Business
The Verified Business certification is designed to address concerns about the legitimacy and authenticity of online businesses. To earn this certification, TrustedSite independently verifies key business information, such as:
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Physical business addresses
- Business registration details
By verifying this information, TrustedSite ensures that there are real people and a legitimate business entity behind the website. This certification helps alleviate concerns about potential scams or fraudulent businesses, providing visitors with the confidence that they are dealing with a verified and trustworthy organization.
Issue-Free Orders
The Issue-Free Orders certification is a testament to a business’s commitment to outstanding customer service and satisfaction. To earn this certification, TrustedSite conducts surveys with customers who have made purchases from the website. If fewer than 5% of surveyed customers report issues with their orders or the overall purchasing experience, the website is awarded the Issue-Free Orders certification. This certification not only demonstrates the business’s ability to consistently deliver a smooth and satisfactory purchasing process but also provides visitors with a tangible metric to gauge the level of customer satisfaction. Websites can display their Issue-Free Orders rate, further instilling confidence in potential customers.
Shopper Identity Protection
The Shopper Identity Protection certification is designed to address concerns about identity theft and data security. Websites that earn this certification offer identity theft protection coverage of up to $100,000 for customers who make purchases within 90 days of their transaction. This certification provides an additional layer of protection and peace of mind for customers, knowing that their personal and financial information is safeguarded, and they have recourse in the event of identity theft resulting from their purchase.
Spam-Free
The Spam-Free certification is aimed at alleviating concerns about spam and unwanted emails. To earn this certification, TrustedSite signs up for the website’s mailing list using a unique email address. They then monitor the email account for any spam or suspicious emails from the website. If no issues are detected over a specified period, the website is awarded the Spam-Free certification. This certification ensures that businesses respect their customers’ inboxes and adhere to responsible email marketing practices, providing visitors with the confidence that they won’t be bombarded with unwanted or malicious emails after signing up or making a purchase.
Trusted Reviews
The Trusted Reviews certification validates that a website has collected authentic customer reviews through respected review partners like Trustpilot and ResellerRatings. TrustedSite works with these partners to verify the authenticity of the reviews, ensuring that they are genuine and not fabricated or manipulated. This certification allows businesses to showcase their positive customer reviews with confidence, as visitors can trust that the reviews are from real customers and not artificially inflated or manipulated.
Data Protection
The Data Protection certification is awarded to businesses that use industry-standard security protocols, such as SSL/TLS encryption, to protect customer data during transactions. This certification ensures that personal and financial information transmitted between the customer’s browser and the website is encrypted, safeguarding it from potential interception or theft.
By earning the Data Protection certification, businesses demonstrate their commitment to data security and provide customers with the assurance that their sensitive information is protected during the purchasing process. These certifications, along with TrustedSite’s continuous monitoring and enforcement of certification standards, help businesses build trust and confidence with online shoppers, ultimately leading to increased conversions and sales.
Benefits of TrustedSite Certification
Increased Customer Trust
TrustedSite certifications and trustmarks are designed to alleviate the most common concerns that online shoppers have, such as:
- Security Concerns: The “Certified Secure” trustmark assures visitors that the website has been thoroughly scanned for security vulnerabilities, malware, and other potential threats, instilling confidence in the site’s safety.
- Privacy Concerns: Certifications like “Data Protection” and “Shopper Identity Protection” demonstrate that the business uses industry-standard security protocols to encrypt data and protect customer information, addressing privacy worries.
- Legitimacy Concerns: The “Verified Business” certification shows that TrustedSite has independently verified the business’s contact information, confirming the existence of real people behind the website.
- Customer Service Concerns: The “Issue-Free Orders” and “Trusted Reviews” certifications provide evidence of the business’s commitment to outstanding customer service and satisfaction, alleviating doubts about post-purchase experiences.
By addressing these common concerns through visible trustmarks and certifications, TrustedSite helps businesses build trust and credibility with online shoppers, increasing the likelihood of conversions.
Higher Conversion Rates
TrustedSite has conducted rigorous A/B split tests with various e-commerce sites, and the results demonstrate significant increases in conversion rates after implementing TrustedSite certifications. Some examples include:
- Mountain House saw a 26.9% increase in conversions.
- Holabird Sports experienced a 16% increase in conversions.
- Lensabl reported a 2.46% increase in conversions.
These conversion rate improvements translate directly into higher sales and revenue for businesses, making TrustedSite certification a valuable investment.
Competitive Advantage
In crowded online marketplaces, standing out from competitors is crucial. By earning and displaying TrustedSite certifications, businesses can differentiate themselves and gain a competitive edge by:
- Demonstrating Commitment to Security and Privacy: Certifications like “Certified Secure” and “Data Protection” showcase the business’s dedication to protecting customer data and maintaining a safe online environment.
- Highlighting Customer Satisfaction: The “Issue-Free Orders” and “Trusted Reviews” certifications provide tangible evidence of the business’s ability to consistently deliver outstanding customer service and satisfaction.
- Offering Additional Protections: Certifications like “Shopper Identity Protection” offer customers added peace of mind by providing identity theft protection coverage, a unique selling point that competitors may not offer.
By leveraging these certifications, businesses can position themselves as trustworthy, customer-centric, and committed to security and privacy, setting them apart from competitors and potentially attracting more customers.
Continuous Monitoring
TrustedSite doesn’t just award certifications and trustmarks; it continuously monitors certified sites to ensure they maintain compliance with certification requirements. This ongoing monitoring provides several benefits:
- Ongoing Assurance: Customers can be confident that the business remains committed to upholding the standards represented by the certifications, as TrustedSite will rescind certifications from businesses that fall out of compliance.
- Early Detection of Issues: TrustedSite’s continuous monitoring can help detect security vulnerabilities, malware, or other issues that may arise, allowing businesses to address them promptly and maintain a secure online environment for their customers.
- Brand Protection: By ensuring that certified sites maintain compliance, TrustedSite helps businesses protect their brand reputation and customer trust, which could be compromised if issues went undetected or unaddressed.
This continuous monitoring and enforcement of certification standards provide ongoing assurance to customers, helping businesses maintain the trust and confidence they have built through TrustedSite certifications.
Final Words
TrustedSite has a rich history dating back to 2002, with roots in the HackerSafe and McAfee SECURE services, which were among the first commercial website vulnerability scanners and trustmarks. Today, TrustedSite continues to evolve, offering a comprehensive suite of services to help businesses build trust, enhance customer confidence, and ultimately drive growth in the digital landscape.
