Marketing - Trustmarks

An online business quality certificate creates consumer confidence. However, the large number of certificates that go around now does not really contribute to the credibiklity of the certificates. In this article you will find the reliable "seals of approval".

Anyone can start their own online business certificate of approval. There are no concrete regulations or controlling bodies. However, labels can optionally be tested by, for example, ConsuWijzer in The Netherlands.

The importance of a trustmark

Research shows that consumers value a trustmark. 90% of customers are more likely to make a purchase if such a trustmark is present. 

Trustmarks provide assurance about, for example, delivery conditions, service, reflection time and warranty of the online business where consumers make their purchase. Although many of these issues are now covered by legislation, the possibility of complaint handling through the trustmark is still a big win.

Independence

A trustmark should be independent and impartial. This can be seen in the form of the company: if it is a foundation or association, it contributes to this. Certificates that have been established as companies primarily serve the interests of the owners.

Transparency and information

The communication and information provided by a trustmark should be honest, reliable, not misleading or purely sales-oriented. You should be able to easily find what the label stands for and what the requirements are to be allowed to use the label.

These labels basically meet the quality requirements, but be sure to do your own research to see which one suits you best! For example, some trustmarks are cheaper with certain web hosting providers, and some trustmarks include additional services such as a customer review module.

Examples of Dutch trustmarks: 

When acquiring an online business, see if it is affiliated with a seal of approval / certificate. Besides having a certificate, online reviews also give a picture of the shop, combine these with hard data such as sales and profits to form a good picture of a shop.