A Google Webmaster Help thread has one webmaster asking if adding trust seals will help with rankings.
The webmaster links to this Google post about Panda where it reads "Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to this site?" The webmaster then asks:
This refers to site trust and i'm wondering if Google now takes into consideration trust seals when it comes to ranking? If so, are some trust seals be better than others?
Truth is, I am not sure but I doubt it.
Having an SSL enabled site for sites that accept credit cards is probably a no brainer. Do you need a HackerSafe logo or BBB Online seal to rank higher? I doubt it.
One user pointed out:
If I remember correctly, both Goldman-Sachs and Bernie Maddof had trust seals on their websites... and Wachovia, even as most of their C-level managers were under Federal indictment for complicity in a telemarketing scheme that was ripping off millions from the bank's senior citizen depositors. How did they know they were senior citizens? Social Security Direct Deposit. Doesn't get much more "eTrust" or "Verisign" than that does it?
It is just too easy to add a trust seal so I doubt there is a ranking boost.
FYI, this is not a new topic, we covered it hear about 8 years ago.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
