In the modern digital era, online businesses are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of customers relying on e-commerce platforms to purchase goods and services. The convenience of online shopping has revolutionized the retail industry, but with this convenience comes the risk of cyber threats. One of the biggest challenges faced by online businesses is establishing trust with their customers. Customers want to feel confident that the websites they are visiting are legitimate, secure, and safe to use. This is where EV (Extended Validation) certificates come in, helping to build credibility and improve online sales.
What are EV certificates?
EV certificates are a type of digital certificate that provides the highest level of authentication and validation for websites. They are issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) after a thorough verification process that ensures the identity of the website owner and the legitimacy of the website. This verification process includes checking the legal existence of the company, its physical location, and the domain ownership.
Once the website owner has been verified, the CA issues an EV certificate that displays the website owner’s name and a green padlock in the address bar of the web browser. This green padlock is a visual indicator that the website is secure and has been authenticated by a trusted third party. When a customer sees this green padlock, they can feel confident that the website they are visiting is legitimate and that their personal and financial information is secure.
How do EV certificates build credibility?
Building credibility is crucial for online businesses to establish trust with their customers. A lack of credibility can lead to a loss of customers, revenue, and reputation. EV certificates help to build credibility in the following ways:
Authentication and verification
The verification process for EV certificates is much more rigorous than for standard SSL/TLS certificates. EV certificates require the website owner to provide extensive documentation to prove their legal existence, physical location, and domain ownership. This thorough verification process ensures that only legitimate businesses are issued EV certificates.
Increased security
EV certificates use the highest level of encryption, which provides enhanced security for online transactions. The green padlock displayed in the web browser’s address bar indicates that the website is using secure encryption to protect the customer’s personal and financial information.
Trust and confidence
When a customer sees the green padlock in the address bar, they know that the website has been authenticated and verified by a trusted third party. This visual indicator builds trust and confidence in the website and its owners, making it more likely that customers will feel comfortable making purchases on the website.
How do EV certificates improve online sales?
Online sales are a critical component of e-commerce businesses, and anything that can improve online sales is beneficial for the business. EV certificates can help to improve online sales in the following ways:
Increased trust
As previously mentioned, EV certificates build trust with customers. When customers trust a website, they are more likely to make purchases on that website. This increased trust can lead to more sales and revenue for the business.
Reduced cart abandonment
Cart abandonment is a significant problem for online businesses. Customers often abandon their shopping carts due to concerns about security and trust. By using an EV certificate, businesses can reduce cart abandonment by demonstrating their commitment to security and building trust with their customers.
Improved SEO
Search engines like Google and Bing use various factors to determine a website’s ranking in search results. One of these factors is website security. Websites that use EV certificates are considered more secure and are therefore more likely to rank higher in search results. This improved ranking can lead to more website traffic and more sales.
Compliance with industry standards
Many industries have regulations and standards that require websites to use secure connections and authentication. For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requires websites that process credit card transactions to use SSL/TLS certificates. By using an EV certificate, businesses can demonstrate compliance with these industry standards, which can lead to increased customer trust and more sales.
Last words
In conclusion, EV certificates are a valuable tool for online businesses looking to establish trust with their customers and improve their online sales. By providing the highest level of authentication and verification, enhancing security, and building trust and confidence, EV certificates can help businesses increase customer trust, reduce cart abandonment, improve SEO, and comply with industry standards. As online businesses continue to grow and face increasing cyber threats, EV certificates will become an even more important part of building a secure and trusted online presence.
