Conveying trust to shoppers is critical to any online business, but especially to small businesses that lack the recognizable names and familiar brands of large retail chains. Thirty-five percent of online shoppers say they?re less willing to purchase from small, unknown e-businesses for fear that their personal information will be misused. So if you own a small online store, you?re starting out at a disadvantage because customers are weary of buying from you to begin with.
A high percentage of Internet users admit that privacy concerns limit their online purchases. In other words, communicating safety to shoppers is critical to your bottom line. Surveys consistently show the top fears of online shoppers ? credit card theft, identity theft, spyware, and spamming ? all center around their information being stolen or exploited. According to Fran Maier, of http://TRUSTe.org, there are many ways you can reassure your customers that their privacy is your priority: