Trusted Shops: Trust and security for your Shopify store

Trust is the be-all and end-all in e-commerce. Customers want to be sure that they are shopping in a reliable online store. This is where Trusted Shops comes into play - a company that creates trust with its seal of approval and offers online retailers and customers security. In this article, you will learn all about Trusted Shops, how to use the Trusted Shops seal of approval for your Shopify store and what advantages it offers.

What is Trusted Shops?

Trusted Shops GmbH is a German-based company founded in 1999 that specializes in online security and customer trust. With the Trusted Shops seal of approval, online retailers can prove their seriousness and trustworthiness to the outside world. Customers in turn benefit from additional security measures such as buyer protection and have the opportunity to leave reviews about the store.

Functions of Trusted Shops

Trusted Shops offers numerous functions that help retailers to gain the trust of their customers and increase the conversion rate:

• Trusted Shops seal of approval: the seal confirms that the store meets strict security criteria.

• Buyer protection: Customers are protected against payment defaults if there are problems with the order.

• Customer ratings: An integrated rating system allows customers to share their experiences and helps the store to build trust with potential buyers.

• Warning protection: Retailers receive legal support and are protected against unjustified warnings.

Advantages of the Trusted Shops seal of approval

The Trusted Shops seal of approval offers both online retailers and their customers a wide range of benefits that strengthen trust, increase conversion rates and improve security in online retail.

1. Building trust
   A shop with the Trusted Shops seal of approval signals at first glance that this shop is reliable and secure. Customers can shop here with confidence because they know that the shop fulfils the strict requirements of Trusted Shops.

2. Increased conversion rate
   Thanks to the integrated buyer protection and the customer reviews collected by Trusted Shops, customers feel more secure, which often leads to a higher conversion rate. Trust in the shop increases, which is directly reflected in a higher willingness to buy on the part of visitors.

3. More transparency and customer communication
   Customer reviews promote open communication between retailers and customers. By customers sharing their experiences, other potential buyers can benefit from the authentic reviews and make a better decision in favour of a purchase. This strengthens trust in the shop and promotes transparent interaction.

4. Legal certainty and protection against warnings
   The Trusted Shops seal of approval also offers an important legal advantage: warning letter protection. This protects retailers from legal problems and warnings that frequently occur in online retail. This allows retailers to concentrate on their core business without having to worry about legal pitfalls.

5. Increasing traffic through Google integration
   Trusted Shops offers an interface to Google Shopping and Google Ads, which makes your shop and product reviews visible. This improves discoverability in search results and increases organic and paid traffic. Star ratings in your Google Ads increase click-through rates and reduce the cost per click (CPC).

6. Newsletter and external advertising opportunities
   As a Trusted Shops partner, you benefit from the opportunity to be mentioned in their newsletters and other marketing measures. This opens up additional advertising channels for your shop and increases your reach and visibility to potential new customers.

7. Long-term customer loyalty through social proof
   Positive customer reviews act as social proof and help to gain the trust of new customers and create long-term loyalty. Trust in your shop increases when potential buyers see that other customers have had positive experiences.

With the Trusted Shops seal of approval, you not only increase trust in your online store, but also sustainably increase your traffic and your conversion rate, while at the same time being legally protected.

How do retailers receive the Trusted Shops seal?

In order to receive the Trusted Shops seal of approval, retailers must undergo a comprehensive audit in which over 100 criteria are taken into account. These criteria include compliance with data protection guidelines, transparent pricing, secure payment processing and the guarantee of consumer protection. Only online stores that meet these quality standards and handle customer data responsibly are awarded the seal of approval.

The inspection process is carried out by a team of qualified business lawyers with extensive experience in the field of e-commerce law. After signing the contract, a personal contact person will contact you within one week to initiate the seal of approval check. If your store is still under construction or being relaunched at this point, the starting point can be agreed individually.

The audit itself usually takes around three weeks. Various aspects such as identity and accessibility, data protection and security, right of withdrawal, product and cost information as well as the ordering process are checked. After the check, you will receive a report with the points that still need to be addressed in order to minimize the workload. It is normal that not all criteria are met from the outset and you will receive clear instructions on how to make adjustments.

Membership, which is required to obtain the seal of approval, is subject to a fee and the price varies depending on the store's annual turnover. The Trusted Shops seal of approval is awarded after a successful audit.

Trusted Shops costs

The costs for Trusted Shops membership vary depending on the size of the online store and the desired functions. As a rule, the price is made up of a monthly fee and optional additional services. Trusted Shops offers three different membership packages that are tailored to the individual needs of online stores:

1. START membership (from €119 per month)
   This package is ideal for retailers who are new to e-commerce and want to build trust quickly. It includes Trustbadge® technology, the seal of approval with buyer protection, unlimited shop ratings and a certified domain. An additional domain can be added if required.

2. PRO membership (from €199 per month)
   The PRO package offers extended functions for shops that require more support. It includes all the services of the START package plus a personal contact person, legal protection through ‘Legal Essential’ and Google integration for better visibility.

3. PREMIUM membership (price on request)
   This customised package is aimed at companies with special requirements. Here, retailers can work with Trusted Shops to put together a customised package that includes additional services such as product reviews and a reputation manager.

The prices depend on the store's annual turnover. For example, membership costs €119 per month for an annual turnover of up to €100,000. Payment is made annually in advance, but monthly installments are possible on request. A one-off set-up fee of €99 is also charged and the minimum contract term is 12 months. All services are provided in the language of the respective target market.

How does the Trusted Shops Shopify integration work?

Integrating the Trusted Shops plugin into your Shopify store is straightforward and can be completed in just a few steps. This is how you proceed:

1. Step: search for “Trusted Shops Easy Integration” in the Shopify App Store and click on “Add App” to install the app.

2. Step: After installation, you will find the app in your Shopify dashboard. Open the app and log in with your Trusted Shops access data. If you do not yet have an account, you can register directly via the app.

3. Step: Select your Shopify store as the sales channel and link it to your eTrusted account in order to correctly integrate the store ratings and the seal of approval.

4. Step: Customize the Trustbadge by configuring its position and display in your store. You can also set how your reviews should be displayed and how review invitations should be sent.

With these steps, you have successfully integrated the Trusted Shops plugin into your Shopify store and can benefit directly from the advantages.

Possible alternatives

Even though Trusted Shops is one of the leading providers, there are alternatives that could also be of interest to Shopify merchants:

Google Customer Reviews: A free service that offers similar features but does not include buyer protection.

EKomi: A rating system that also strengthens customer trust, but is less well-known than Trusted Shops.

Trustpilot: A world-renowned customer review platform that helps Shopify merchants gain the trust of potential customers through verified reviews. Trustpilot also offers extensive integrations and functions to increase customer satisfaction.

These retailers use Trusted Shops

Numerous well-known retailers rely on the Trusted Shops seal of approval, including Latori customers Charme du Cheval, Boc24 and Coeur de Lion. These companies use Trusted Shops to strengthen the trust of their customers and sustainably increase their conversion rate.

Conclusion

Trusted Shops offers a comprehensive solution to create trust and security in e-commerce. Both retailers and customers benefit from the Trusted Shops seal, buyer protection and the rating function. The integration of Trusted Shops Shopify is particularly easy and efficient for Shopify merchants thanks to the special app. The Trusted Shops costs are flexible and adapt to the needs of different store sizes.

So if you want to boost trust in your online store and increase your conversion rate, Trusted Shops is the ideal choice.