Our Trust Score is transparent. Here's exactly how we calculate it.

Every business on TrustedInCyprus is scored from 0 to 10 using three independent public signals. The weightings are fixed; the criteria are published; the data sources are named. If you can find the same information we did, you can reproduce the score.

THE THREE SIGNALS

Three views. One score.

We deliberately don't rely on any single data source. A business can game a star rating, but it's much harder to simultaneously look good on Google, in community conversations, and on its own website. 

SIGNAL 02
50%

Online Presence Score

We check on what a real shopper needs before they'll commit - can they find prices, see stock availability, understand delivery terms, read a returns policy, know how to pay, and tell who they're actually dealing with.

Scored across three pillars: information clarity, transaction confidence, and business transparency.

  • 12 criteria
  • Total scaled to a score out of 10
  • Weighted toward criteria shoppers actually act on

Read more below

SIGNAL 01
40%

Google Reviews

We look at star rating, review volume, and recency together - because a high average from very few people tells us less than a solid average from hundreds. Reviews that are significantly out of date carry less weight, and we flag anything that looks like an inauthentic pattern.

  • Star rating (weighted by volume)
  • How many reviews they have
  • How recent the reviews are
  • Whether the review pattern looks genuine
SIGNAL 03
10%

Community Mentions

Real recommendations from independent communities — expat forums, Cyprus Facebook groups, Reddit, and TripAdvisor threads. We only count mentions that can be traced back to a real person. No fake buzz.

  • Mentions on expat forums
  • Recommendations in Facebook groups
  • Reddit and Q&A threads
  • Whether each mention is positive or negative

ONLINE PRESENCE SCORE

The criteria, in plain English.

Trust & Transparancy.

Company transparency
Full address, company reg / VAT

Customer testimonials
Testimonials listed on the site.

Social media presence & activity
Existing accounts, recent posts, engagement,

Product Information.

Product catalogue with descriptions
Detailed & clear descriptions of the products.

Product image quality
Clear images, multiple angles where sensible.

Pricing displayed
Prices visible without needing to call or email.

Stock / availability indication
Can you tell if it's in stock before you travel there?

Purchase Experience.

Online purchasing option
Cart, checkout, or a clear order process.

Payment methods displayed
Card, bank transfer, cash on delivery 

Delivery information
Lead times, areas covered, cost bands.

Return / exchange policy
Terms mentioned on the website.

Contact accessibility
Multiple contact options

WHAT WE DON'T DO

The things that would undermine the score.

A score only means something if we hold the line on how it's earned. These are the commitments we've made and published  and we'd like you to hold us to them.

  We don't let businesses pay to raise their Trust Score.

We don't remove a score because a business complains.

  We don't count reviews we know are fake.

  We don't score on subjective aesthetics ("nice website").

We don't include table-stakes checks everyone scores on.

  We don't hide the formula. Everything is on this page.

Frequently asked about the score.

How often are scores updated?

Scores are refreshed once a month or on request after a business has made material changes to its website.

Can I pay to improve my Trust Score?

No. You can pay for featured placement at the top of a category, which is clearly labelled as such. You cannot pay to change your score, remove criticism, or edit the methodology.

I'm a business owner and I think my score is wrong. What now?

Email [email protected] with the specific criterion you disagree with and what evidence supports the change.