GeoTrust EV SSL Case Study:

GeoTrust Extended Validation SSL Certificates Validation Helps New Business Establish Trust with Customers

Founded by designer Melanie Mueller in 2008, Mel Boteri specializes in creating custom handbags and shoes for women. Mueller has worked with world-renowned designers, including Zac Posen, and currently offers premium leather handbags and shoes that can be customized with dozens of color and hardware options at the company's showroom in Atlanta, Georgia, or online at melboteri.com.

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Challenge: Establish Trust for a New Business

When she entered the highly competitive world of fashion and design, Melanie Mueller knew that one of her top priorities would be helping her new business, Mel Boteri, stand out from the competition. She also knew that a user-friendly, secure website would be a key part of her strategy. "When I hear about a new business, one of the first things I do is check out their website," she says. "If a company doesn't have a website, or if the site doesn't look professional, it gives a negative impression."

Mueller also makes it a point to check to see if websites are secure. "When I shop online, especially at a new site I'm not familiar with, I always check for a seal to make sure that the site is protected and that my credit card information will be safe," she says.

With a background in design, marketing, and business, Mueller is not an expert in online security, but she wanted to give her customers the same peace of mind that's so important to her when she shops online. "My site has been an ecommerce website from day one, so I knew I needed to offer SSL security," says Mueller. "Mel Boteri is a relatively new company, so I wanted online security that would help me build confidence with my customers and demonstrate that my website is trustworthy."

Solution: Highly Visible, Easy-to-Install Security

Before implementing an SSL Certificate on her website, Mueller researched several solutions, including GoDaddy, but opted for GeoTrust because it offers cost-effective SSL protection backed by one of the most recognizable names in online security. "I had seen GeoTrust used on other websites, so I knew the name would be familiar," Mueller says. "GeoTrust also offered attractive pricing, so it was a great combination of a well-known brand at a reasonable cost."

Mueller also appreciated the highly visible security provided by extended validation, so she selected GeoTrust True BusinessID with EV. "Rather than having to search everywhere for a seal, the green extended validation bar is incredibly easy to spot," she says. "When the green bar appears, it makes it very apparent that you're on a secure site and it gives customers even more confidence that their transactions are safe."

As a busy designer and business owner without a technical background, Mueller also found the GeoTrust SSL seal easy to install. "To start using the GeoTrust seal, all I had to do was read the instructions on the GeoTrust website, ask my hosting company where to put it, and then copy and paste the code onto my site," says Mueller. "Anything that you have to do to run a business, from public relations to accounting, I do. Normally, I wouldn't have time to set up security for my website, but with GeoTrust, I was able to install the security seal by myself and I was able to do it quickly."

Results: Offering an Online Experience that Builds Trust

Since its launch in 2009, the Mel Boteri website has provided a safe environment where customers can create custom designs, save them for later review, or make an immediate purchase. "Not all of my customers can meet with me at my showroom in Atlanta, so my website is a great way for people to see my designs and experiment with customizing my products," says Mueller. "When my customers see the GeoTrust logo and green address bar, they definitely feel safer spending time on my website and buying online."

In addition to increasing customer confidence, GeoTrust EV SSL Certificates have helped Mueller demonstrate that her website is trustworthy and legitimate. "My company is relatively new, but having established company like GeoTrust behind me helps me build the Mel Boteri brand," she says. "With GeoTrust SSL security, I can offer visible security that can not only increase sales, but I can also provide an online shopping experience that can turn visitors into loyal customers."

Future: More Sales, Both Online and In the Showroom

In the future, Mueller plans to rely on the Mel Boteri website to generate more sales, both online and in the company's showroom. "As word about Mel Boteri spreads, people are going to visit the website to buy online, but I know the site's going to spur more people to visit us in person too," she says. "GeoTrust has helped me lay the groundwork for not only a great ecommerce site, but also a wonderful lead generation site as well. I've seen great results with GeoTrust, and I'm excited to see what the future will bring."

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GeoTrust EV SSL Case Study:

GeoTrust Extended Validation SSL Certificates Validation Helps New Business Establish Trust with Customers

Challenge: Establish Trust for a New Business

Solution: Highly Visible, Easy-to-Install Security

Results: Offering an Online Experience that Builds Trust

Future: More Sales, Both Online and In the Showroom

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