Lucy - BQ Magazine EditorCreating a secure checkout for your customers is paramount to encouraging them to give you their custom, allowing them to feel safe making online transactions in your store, and boosting your reputation. Security as an online business should be at the heart of everything you do and your payment options shouldn’t be missed from this protection.
Studies have shown that a significant number of people will abandon their checkout if they do not feel it is safe to continue, and it can be as many as 40% of customers who shop online. This underlines the critical role of security in building and maintaining customer trust.
If people don’t have trust in you to complete a sale, it can be massively detrimental to your business. Therefore, ensuring a secure checkout process is not just a necessity but a strategic imperative.
Let’s take a look at some ways you can build trust in your checkout process.
Trusted Payment Gateways
Using trusted payment gateways can help you benefit from the provider’s reputation and reliably as you can use their track record to bolster payments and give customers added peace of mind by using a provider they know and trust.
It’s important to understand the fees associated with partnering with trusted gateway providers as this can impact your fee structures and pricing, but if you want to add extra credibility to make a sale, this could be an excellent option for you to choose.
PIS
A PIS or payment initiation service is one in which you process the payments directly and don’t use a third party in the middle to handle payments as above. Both options are valid, and you might find these options add more trust to your business, some customers might prefer not to have their payment details handled by others and prefer the transactions to take place within your company.
This means you need to use a trusted payment initiation service provider that you can work with to build security into your payment options to put your customer’s minds at ease.
Use SSL Certificates
SSL or secure socket layers not only secure the storage of data but also provide visible reassurance to customers. When they see that your store has an SSL, they will automatically know that you’re implementing protocols to keep them safe.
This visual cue of security can significantly boost their confidence in your platform. Having SSL enabled on your site can protect against unauthorised access and data theft, offering both you and your customers a sense of security.
Update Website Security
Paying attention to the overall security of your website, not just the payment aspect, will afford you more confidence from the customer and allow you to deliver a seamless and safe transaction. Regularly updating your website’s security measures, such as using 2FA, firewalls, and anti-virus software, and promptly installing software and security updates, demonstrates your commitment to their safety.
This proactive approach can help you improve trust across the board for a safer customer experience, regardless of their activity on your website.