Trust is not something you can launch with a Web site. Just as in the off-line world, trust is built with consistency and over time. You can’t “buy” trust; you have to earn it.
Search algorithms have trust factors. For example, Google determines trustworthiness of a site by the number and quality of sites that link to a particular site. Although this isn’t the end all be all, Google uses this as just one of many ways to try and determine trust.
Why trust? Because of the reasons stated above… You can buy it; you can’t install it. You have to earn it over time. That is also why domains registered for longer and that have been online longer are trusted more.
Same goes for Social Media and Networking — which you should be involved in and if you are not yet; get your butt in gear! From being involved on trusted sites, to being trusted by site visitors who can reflect their trust by virtue of their actions, once again it is clear that trust is gold online. Build trust and you build your reputation, exposure, business, network and even friends.
Here is a great article written by one of my fav writers by Jeff Quipp, that covers the trust issue in Social Networking:
4 Pillars of Social Media Algorithms … Trust x4
Then, when you are done reading the above article, read his next article that goes into the top trusted sites:
25 of Digg’s Most Trusted Sites
Between these two articles, you’ll have a good idea of why you need a Social Media plan and where to start implementing it. I’ve been doing this from the start — over 13 years now and I have to tell you that right now is one of the most exciting periods in the Webolution. If you have an static Web site — you are simply glorified brochureware. You need interactivity components where you can reach out to visitors and they can do the same to you — and I’m not talking a contact form.
The possibilities and opportunities are endless — right now — due to all the ways you can share information and interact with like minds! Time to get Social!
At your service,
Judith
