The Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab has compiled 10 guidelines for building the credibility of a web site. These guidelines are based on three years of research that included over 4,500 people.

These guidelines will help boost your web site’s credibility:

• Make it easy to verify the accuracy of the information on your site. (linking back? check!)
• Show that there’s a real organization behind your site. (I’m all you got. check!)
• Highlight the expertise in your organization and in the content and services you provide. (the resume? check!)
• Show that honest and trustworthy people stand behind your site. (social currency? check!
• Make it easy to contact you. (roger! roger!)
• Design your site so it looks professional or is appropriate for your purpose. (lemme… check!)
• Make your site easy to use — and useful. (easy to use, check… useful, hmmm…)
• Update your site’s content often at least show it’s been reviewed recently. (date posted? check!)
• Use restraint with any promotional content e.g., ads, offers. (kaching! ekkk)
• Avoid errors of all types, no matter how small they seem. (as in spilleng errors? chick!)

In parenthesis, mine. Ok, got me an 8 out of 10. Not bad.

Read full article here.

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