Your Links Are Costing You Customers

"As entrepreneurs, we obsess over funnels, pixels, and creative. But here's the quiet leak many businesses miss: your links. In a world of AI-generated phishing and domain spoofing, a sketchy-looking URL isn't just an aesthetic issue, it's a trust issue. Consumers reported $12.5 billion in fraud losses last year, and attackers are weaponizing AI to make scams nearly impossible to spot."

"DigiCert's State of Digital Trustresearch found that 47 percent of consumers stopped doing business with a company after losing trust in its digital security, and 57 percent say they'd likely switch if they felt that trust erode. You don't need a breach to trigger that. Looking "phishy" is often enough. The pattern you normalize is the behavior you get Generic shorteners and off-brand domains may be cheap and convenient, but they also look exactly like the links your customers are trained to avoid."

Entrepreneurs often focus on funnels, pixels, and creative while neglecting link hygiene. Sketchy-looking URLs reduce customer trust and expose businesses to AI-enhanced phishing and domain spoofing. Consumers reported $12.5 billion in fraud losses last year, and attackers are weaponizing AI to make scams nearly impossible to spot. Nearly half of consumers stop doing business with companies after losing trust in digital security, and a majority would switch if trust erodes. Generic shorteners and off-brand domains resemble phishing patterns and teach audiences to click obfuscated links. Branded domains reduce hesitation, increase click propensity, and make spoofing harder to execute and audit.

Read at Inc