You can keep your website security and maximize sales at the same time without going over your budget. This article detailed how to do it.
Your sales are only as strong as your online store design. With great sales copy and compelling visual cues, you’ll jump way ahead of your competition. There are other factors, though, that your potential customers are watching for that can hurt you or help you. One of those factors – and it’s the one that’s not discussed nearly enough – is security.
Today’s consumers are web savvy. They know what to look for in a secure online store. They’ve also been hammered with news story after news story about how dangerous it is to buy online. Many are cautious, sometimes overly-cautious. If you want to maximize sales, you need to give them security.
Maximize Sales: How to Secure and Increase Your Online Store Sales
How do you do that, exactly? You use back-end security techniques that have front-end visibility. Here are 5 steps to securing your online store that will give your customers peace of mind and encourage them to click that “buy” button:
1. Start with SSL
If your store does not have SSL certificate installed, it is a sign of vulnerability to your customers. And the good side of investing in this will tell on your sales and ROI.
2. Use a secure cart
Your shopping card software needs to be PCI compliant, at a minimum. With the vast number of PCI compliant open-source carts out there, you have no excuse not to go PCI-compliant. It’s the basic level of security credit cards require, too.
3. Ask for verification
There are two verification technologies you need to use: address verification and CCV. Don’t set the tolerance too high on address verification, of course, or you’ll be manually processing most transactions. Also, it’s become fairly standard to use the CCV (also known as CVV or CVV2) value during the checkout process. (Verification also protects you from fraudulent transactions, saving you the headache and disappointment that comes with chargebacks.)
Also Read: Hackers to launch self satellites to block Internet censorship
4. Monitor your security
There are a number of security verification processes you can use. Many web hosts offer this as an add-on service. By using a third party to verify your security, you increase consumer credibility. A third-party endorsement seal will demonstrate your security commitment to your users.
5. Make security visible
You’re going to put time and effort into your security measures, so you want your customers to know about them. A security policy page gives you the chance to address the consumer’s fears at the point of purchase. Provide a link to your security policy on your checkout page (ideally in the form of a JavaScript pop-up so the user doesn’t need to navigate away from the cart to see it).
Not every customer is aware of or concerned with online store security, but many are. Unless your store is a household name you have to earn customers’ trust. Providing a truly secure transaction to your customer and making that process visible tells your customers you care. It tells them you won’t let their information be compromised, and that, ultimately, you can be trusted!
Conclusion
This article offers you simple steps to secure your website in order to maximize sales with less budget. If you have other amazing security related ideas to help businesses maximize sales without compromising user data, you can share them with us in the comment section.
Leave a Reply