E-Business
Building Trust: 6 Ways to Create a Credible eCommerce Website
Ecommerce or internet commerce is becoming efficient day by day. There are more than 5 billion online shopping portals and this count is elevating everyday, stressed Kanu Iroegbu, a Certified Digital Marketing Consultant.
According to him, one of the most important ingredients for an ecommerce site is its design. “The website design should be adorable and at the same time, understandable. A stunning website exerts a pull on the visitors at their first sight.
“The website design is an important aspect for intensifying the traffic to the site. If the website has all the essential elements that are requisite, then the time a visitor stays on the website also increases.
“As we are moving with time the numbers of online users are continuously increasing. This rising trend of ecommerce serves as good opportunities to gain maximum profit for online retailers on the other hand it also help in facilitating users. The below article give a brief overview of an insight to the online retailers that help business owner in carrying out the business at right direction,” he said.
Although eCommerce is seeing exponential growth, Iroegbu said that, users are becoming careful when making purchases online. With so many helpful guides available, people can determine very quickly, often within a split second, whether a website is authentic or not. So, what can you do to provide customers with piece of mind?
Thus, he identified the six (6) factors which can help eCommerce websites demonstrate their legitimacy online.
1. Real Reviews from Real People
A great way to establish that you are running a legitimate business with great products is to ask your customers for reviews. Although this may be hard to believe, humans tend to trust each other and believe it when others say that a certain product is great. In fact, it’s better to feature reviews of other people on your website than slick marketing copy. According to a great infographic from PeopleClaim, after search, ratings and reviews are the second most important site feature and 71% of customers agree that reviews make them more comfortable that they are buying the right product.
In the age of social media, it’s quite important that reviews are validated; so, it’s a good idea to link it to the reviewers Twitter or Facebook profiles. A tweet or post from a Twitter or Facebook fan will lend credibility to your brand, more than an anonymous post ever could. Despite all the positives, reviews can and will often be bad. It doesn’t matter if a small minority of your customers don’t like your products. What matters is how you handle these customers. Don’t ignore their comments or feedback, provide positive assurances, and you may even turn an angry customer into a loyal one.
2. Celebrity Endorsements
Similarly, you can also request famous influencers to write a few words about your product. If a potential visitor sees a review of your product from a celebrity, they will immediately associate your product with a trusted face. Skin care brand Proactiv has a page dedicated to celebrity endorsements. Although you may feel as though the testimonials on this page are paid for (and they probably were), these are still famous people who are willing to entrust an important asset (their skin) to Proactiv.
3. Press Mentions
Being recognized by your customers is great for validation, but it’s also useful to highlight any media coverage you get. Simply putting logos of the websites that have featured you is an effective way of telling visitors that your product has been reviewed by professionals. Tictail does a great job of this by providing small images to all the blogs and newspapers it has been featured in, as well as picking out choice quotes.
4. Social Engagement
Since the prevalence of social media, nothing is more powerful for a brand than an army of vocal followers. Facebook’s “Facepile” plugin is an aesthetically pleasing way of showing all your product’s fans. The “faces” on the plugin aren’t chosen at random; if the visitor is logged into their Facebook account, the faces are usually of their friends. A familiar face can go a long way in providing legitimacy on a website.
The number of Facebook fans or Twitter followers you have should not be the only barometer of your brand’s success, but it offers visitors an unbiased, quantitative metric as to the authenticity of your site. If you only have a few hundred followers it could be that your brand is new or not enough people care about it. In contrast, if you have thousands of followers it’s clear that a lot of people find your products useful.
5. Putting a Face to your Brand
Highlighting the different people in your team is important in building trust. If your employees are using social media and have their own personal web presence it will add legitimacy to your website. It’s also going to make it highly unlikely that such a user is a scam artist. Displaying the team members in a prominent manner also demonstrates that the company is being transparent. In contrast, scammers will usually obscure their identity, hiding behind layers of anonymity.
6. Social Proofing your Products
Social proofing is an important concept in both offline and online retail. If a potential customer is shown how others have contributed, they will be provided with a cue on how to act. In offline retail, store owners may suggest that their stock is almost sold out, indicating popularity for a particular item. Similarly, in an online context, eCommerce websites can use tactics to point potential customers in the direction of popular products.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has pledged to enforce its legal obligations to combat online intellectual property infringement and urged commercial music users to obtain proper licences from rights holders or their representatives.
The Commission stated that this ensures creators are fairly compensated, supporting the music industry’s sustainable growth.
In a statement commemorating the 2025 World Intellectual Property Day, themed “IP and Music: Feel the Best of IP,” the NCC announced plans to enforce the Copyright Act 2022, which allows for the takedown of infringing materials and blocking of websites hosting illegal content.
Signed by Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, director of Public Affairs, the statement outlined an aggressive anti-piracy campaign in collaboration with the private sector, targeting the online environment.
Egbunike affirmed the NCC’s commitment to establishing enforceable standards for transparency, digital audits, and real-time royalty reporting to protect creators’ rights. She stated, “The NCC will continue to champion policies that support the growth of the music industry, improve the livelihoods of Nigerian musicians, and foster a culture of creativity and respect for intellectual property.”
Despite the global success of Afrobeats and other Nigerian genres, the NCC noted that many musicians face low royalty returns due to rampant digital piracy.
To address this, the Commission revised its Collective Management Regulations to enhance transparency and accountability among Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
The NCC emphasised that proper licensing is a legal obligation and vital for Nigeria’s creative economy, stating, “Music must feel the beat of intellectual property for the full potential of creativity to be realised.”
The Commission highlighted that creators’ livelihoods depend on fair royalty compensation.
Recent enforcement measures include the NCC’s designation by the Attorney-General of the Federation as an authority under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022.
This, combined with the Copyright Act 2022, empowers the NCC to order takedowns and block illegal music distribution websites.
The Federal Government, has warned Nigerians against the growing threat of cyber slavery within the West African sub-region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued in Abuja by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, acting spokesperson, noted with grave concern the alarming rise of cyber slavery across parts of West Africa, targeting Nigerian citizens, particularly vulnerable youths.
The government said many young Nigerians, including underage teenagers, were lured out of the country under the false promise of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, particularly in crypto-related operations.
According to the government, “In reality, these individuals are trafficked into sophisticated scam operations and enslaved to work in criminal “call centres” — often referred to as “419 cyber-scam factories.” There, they are forced under coercive and inhumane conditions to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide.”
The government also noted with dismay, a recent incident where the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in Accra, Ghana, rescued and detained a group of Nigerians forced to engage in cybercrime activities under inhumane conditions.
“This incident highlights the severe exploitation and abuse associated with cybercrime operations. It also underscores the need for enhanced efforts to combat such multibillion-dollar criminal networks and mitigate the susceptibility of victims.
“The Ministry strongly warns all Nigerians, especially the youths and parents, to exercise the utmost caution when presented with job offers, particularly those promising easy money, overseas travel, or remote work involving cryptocurrencies.
“Nigerians are therefore advised to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that, as a precautionary measure to address this unfortunate situation, the Federal Government is working closely with regional partners, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations to tackle this heinous crime, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The Ministry remains committed to protecting Nigerian citizens at home and abroad and will continue to raise awareness about emerging threats to the welfare and dignity of our people,” the statement read.
E-Business
ALX Nigeria Launches 2025 Ventures Incubator, Premieres Pan-African “Do Hard Things” Finale
ALX Nigeria is once again proving that when African talent meets the right opportunity, magic happens. In a celebration of innovation, grit, and ambition, ALX officially launched its 2025 Ventures Incubator Cohort, an elite group of startup founders handpicked from across the country, while simultaneously premiering the grand finale of the pan-African “Do Hard Things Challenge” at its Lagos hub.
From tech founders solving community challenges to creatives turning ideas into global solutions, ALX is backing the bold and building the infrastructure to help them scale. The ALX Ventures Incubator is the next big leap for graduates of the Founder Academy, providing them with hands-on mentorship, investor access, and the resources to grow sustainable businesses that shape the future of the continent.
“The launch of the ALX Ventures Incubator is proof of our unwavering commitment to building the infrastructure for African innovation to thrive,” said Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager at ALX Nigeria. “We witnessed incredible potential at our Founder Academy, and this next step ensures that these promising startups receive the support they need to grow into high-impact ventures. It’s about translating potential into lasting impact.”
These new ventures are powered by the same spirit that drove the Do Hard Things Challenge—a bold initiative that saw ALX travel to eight African cities in search of the continent’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. The final stop? Mauritius, where top finalists pitched in a high-stakes finale, now screened live for the Lagos tech and media community.
The challenge took ALX across Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kigali, Accra, Cairo, Casablanca, and Addis Ababa, shining a spotlight on resilience, creativity, and unstoppable drive.
“The ‘Do Hard Things Challenge’ embodies the spirit we cultivate at ALX: resilience, ambition, and the courage to tackle complex problems,” said Joshua Ebinabo, ALX Ventures Country Entrepreneurship Development Manager.
“Showcasing the finale from Mauritius here in Lagos connects our local innovators to the broader African story. It inspires our learners, reassures parents about the future of tech, and shows business leaders the investment-ready talent right here in our ecosystem.”
The event brought together founders, business leaders, creators, and media influencers—all gathered to witness what happens when African talent is seen, celebrated, and supported. The energy was electric, the vision was bold, and the mission was clear: empower Africa’s brightest minds to build global solutions from right here on the continent.
Whether you’re a startup founder looking to scale or a dreamer looking for your big break, ALX continues to be the launchpad for Africa’s digital and entrepreneurial revolution.
Learn more about ALX’s tech and business programmes at alxafrica.ng, and follow the movement on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram via @alxnigeria.
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