Healthcare merchants operating legally online may wonder why they need certification when they are already properly licensed. What they may fail to realize is that the online healthcare space - including internet pharmacies, telemedicine providers, eyewear merchants, and more - is rife with bad actors offering products and services that are illegal and potentially dangerous. Certification helps to prove you are one of the few operating safely and legally.
According to a LegitScript study, as many as 96% of all online pharmacies are operating illegally. The industry as a whole suffers from a fundamental lack of consumer trust. As we have pointed out before, licenses hold only limited value because rogue pharmacies often forge them.
Strong consumer trust is one of the best ways to differentiate your business, not only from illicit operations but from legitimate competition. The U.S. Small Business Association states that trust is the most valuable business commodity: "The fact is that integrity impacts all aspects of business and is among, if not the most important, character trait for a company to have." One of the best ways to build trust, they state, is to stay in compliance with local and federal laws. LegitScript Certification can help with that. We assist online healthcare merchants in identifying inadvertent violations and help them quickly come into compliance.
According to the publication Small Business Trends, being certified is one of the best ways to build trust with your customers: "Your business website ... can include any other relevant logos and certifications which help with building trust with customers. When people buy online, in particular, they like to feel that a website, and the company behind it, is well-established, legitimate and secure enough that they can provide their personal information without negative repercussions." That's why LegitScript Certification comes with a unique digital seal that healthcare merchants can prominently display on their websites to show they have been carefully vetted by a third party.
Entrepreneur magazine states that trust helps businesses outshine their competition, especially in sectors such as the healthcare industry where safety is a concern: "Customers are careful to spend their limited dollars wisely and are scrutinizing each purchase to make sure they're making a 'safe' decision. They want to buy from companies they trust and believe in."
Furthermore, Entrepreneur states that successful businesses set themselves apart through unique selling propositions (USPs). These are unique attributes that distinguish a business from competitors: "Think of a USP as your secret sauce ... It grabs people's attention. It can't be easily copied. And it offers a clear-cut, marketable benefit to your customer."
LegitScript Certification - which is known throughout the online advertising, social media, regulatory, and payment sectors - is the kind of unique selling proposition that can set your business apart in a crowded field. It is recognized by card brands such as Visa and Mastercard, as well as major search engines such as Google and Bing. It is, in short, the "secret sauce" you've been looking for.
Interested in becoming LegitScript-certified? Find out more.
