Creating a trustworthy e-commerce website

Traditional approaches are slowly losing their appeal as the era of digital technology grows, with e-commerce services emerging as a popular option among companies to sell their products or services.

While e-commerce has many perks, we can not look past the hidden dangers behind it.

One of the biggest concerns consumers have about e-commerce is the lack of security. As e-commerce is becoming increasingly popular, e-commerce scams are becoming more prevalent. As of 2021, Statistica has reported that there have been 2,707 e-commerce scams in Singapore, a decrease from 2020 (3,359).

As a result, this causes consumers to be wary of e-commerce websites.

With these numbers, it is no wonder that consumers would be sceptical at first. Many are afraid that they might become victims of online scams, and that their personal information will be stolen. In addition, many have also expressed their doubts if they will receive the product listed in the original posts, as they have no other way to determine the authenticity of the product aside from checking the pictures provided and third-party reviews.

No matter how appealing your products may be, it will all be for naught if there is no trust between you and your customers.

One way you can begin to clear these doubts is by creating a comprehensive and trustworthy e-commerce platform. Trust begins with making good first impressions. The shopping experience matters as much as making the purchases. Many e-commerce websites provide all the tools to manage a customer’s purchases, such as creating wish lists.

A well-designed website is always a pleasure to navigate, especially when the products are present in a way that makes it comfortable for the customer to navigate—gradually building trust between them and the company over time.

Don’t know how to start designing? From a survey from eConsultancy, here are some of the comments some respondents have made.

What can we do as customers?

Not just the company, it is also the responsibility of customers to be wary of any suspicious websites.

1. Make sure that the website starts with https and not http

1. Avoid clicking on pop up ads

1. Check that the owners and the address in the bar are in green. It indicates that the site has an extended validation SSL certificate.

1. Get rid of malware using software to capture key images and screen images to prevent hackers

1. Avoid opening many tabs at the same time on a web browser to prevent the risk of tab napping, a hacker who can steal information from multiple tabs

1. Manage software by storing sensitive data on a management software

1. Consider one-time credit card numbers to provide extra protection

We hope these tips will be of help to you - both companies and consumers alike. Shop safely!

If you are unsure of where to begin, feel free to contact our digital consultants at Websentials to kickstart your e-journey!