Comments on: Do McAfee or HackerSafe Security Badges Increase E-commerce Conversion Rate?

By: Chris Goward

Chris Goward — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:54:22 +0000

It’s true that you could us a static copy of a logo or create your own version of a security logo. Most consumers would have to be sophisticated to know how to check if it’s legitimate.

And tests have shown that, in some cases, any security badge can increase sales just as much as a verified third-party badge.

The conclusion is to test it for yourself in various placements to see what works best for your site.

By: Sharky

Sharky — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:46:37 +0000

Fire Tony :

1. Many of the badges require you to implement javascript on the site.

2. If you roll over a badge, you should get a popup identifying the secure info….

3. You will also see the date updating on a daily basis…

I do agree though, it can be easy just to show the image as a static image….

Still testing otherwise to see if there is any uplift, gut feeling tells me to remove it….

By: Fire Toys

Fire Toys — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:33:28 +0000

Who’s to say people aren’t just BS-ing and using the logo on their site, it’s really not that reliable.

Anyone can just copy and paste security logos on their site. Sure they look nice, but in reality what do they really do??

All Security Badges do is make an un-experienced user feel like they are being safe.

A good hacker can take down any site regardless of a lil security badge.

By: Ike Myle

Ike Myle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:41:15 +0000

Actually McAfee increase sale. Not that much but think about. First of all you have the logo in google search which make a difference. Second every ecommerce web site must be certified for auditing. McAfee gives you that for a better price. Plus even un experienced user herd of McAfee security so it gives you confidence buying from that site. And not the last McAfee link to your site is very strong and can be found by google as a backlink. So bottom line it is worth it to py the 750$ fee. Nature Sunshine

By: MK

MK — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:23:40 +0000

If I do any kind of shopping online, I would like to see this kind of security badge only at the last page or where I make the payment. If it follows me through out the pages, it would def make me rethink about this site. Why should they keep saying they are secured, weren’t they were secured earlier?
Just my thought!
Guru

By: CT

CT — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:20:57 +0000

By: VA

VA — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:51:56 +0000

@Jason – Your gut is probably right about the Distraction the McAfee logo is causing. It also may be causing Anxiety in some visitors who wouldn’t necessarily worry about security if you don’t make the security message so prominent, as implied by Guru’s comment.
@Guru – Thanks for your input as a shopper. There’s definitely a risk of making assumed securities too prominent. The visitor may start to think that the e-commerce retailer ‘doth protest too much’!

By: kate mckeon

kate mckeon — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:20:12 +0000

@Jan
A few years back I tested Hackersafe on a number of client sites, including my own e-commerce. Having the security badge on the upper right of the site increased conversion from 4% to 16%(really small site!). It turns out people (well, right handed people) look up and to the right when they are thinking about taking an action. So the security badge was only “visible” when they were thinking about taking the action indicated on the page – it proved to be reassuring.

@Jason, I’d call it the desperate approach. The we’re-so-safe-really-really-we-are approach. If even on the mini-cart it should be microscopic next to “shopping cart” – again, look up and right – not where I usually see submit/buy/checkout.

By: Jan Petrovic

Jan Petrovic — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:30:44 +0000

This is very interesting finding. I believe it also depends where you place it, and placing it right under the checkout button isn’t probably the best solution.
In our blog I have a case study from petco.com, and they have placed the hacker safe logo in their header. They seen an increase in sales by 8.83%.
As I said, depends where you place it. Testing is always important when you make any change.

By: Chris Goward

Chris Goward — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:59:30 +0000

@Guru – Thanks for your input as a shopper. There’s definitely a risk of making assumed securities too prominent. The visitor may start to think that the e-commerce retailer ‘doth protest too much’!