Google TrustRank, What You Need to Know
 by Mattya56
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03-20-2007
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It’s important that visitors to you Web site trust your business for two reasons. First, if visitors to your site don’t trust that you are reputable business, you can forget about getting a conversion. That should be enough for some people, but even for those not worried about how they are perceived by the web-community, here’s an added reason why you should be cognitive of trust – Google cares how your visitors perceive you, and if Google cares then you should too. What do I mean when I say Google cares? I mean Google will rank you based on a scale they have created to determine if your Web site evokes trust in consumers.
Keep in mind Google’s motives – to direct its users to Web sites that are relevant to their search criteria and are reputable web-based businesses. That means if you’re looking shady, Google does not want to send its users to your doorstep. That makes sense, right? Would you use Google if every time you submitted a search for the term “Air Jordan Sale” you were directed to a Web site that ripped you off? I didn’t think so.
So here’s what we know so far to be components of Google’s TrustRank:
Longevity – Google doesn’t want to send its users to fly-by-night businesses that are out to steal their credit card numbers, their information or their sanity.
Verification of a Checking Account – You need an SSL Certificate. An SSL Certificate does just what Google is asking for; it provides proof that you have a valid checking account and are capable of conducting web-based business transactions.
Clear Cut Privacy Policy – You’ll need to post your Web sites rules about its visitors’ information. Visitors should be able to read what your intentions are for their info anyways.
Contact Information – You should provide a telephone number and an address. Better make that a physical address, try to avoid using mailboxes, etc. Mailboxes Etc., that’s funny!
Become Hacker Safe – Go out and get the software and post on your Web site that you are “Hacker Safe”. Spend the money, it’s good for your business and Google is a big fan of it.
Google Checkout – This is a fairly new application that you can sign up for here: http://checkout.google.com/sell?promo=sha2. Lately, we’ve seen companies who are using Google Checkout jump in popularity. If it’s made by Google, their algorithm definitely likes it.
These tips will get you on your way to a high Google TrustRank. Keep in mind, however, that this is just one way to boost your ranking with Google. While these are important steps, the TrustRank aspect of the Google Algorithm is fairly small. I would imagine, however, that in the era of PPC, TrustRank will become more and more important. By utilizing these tips you will be setting yourself up nicely in the future. And, as I mentioned before, these are really just common sense strategies you should already be using to make your visitors more comfortable.
