How it works
How SOFTRE works.
A self-serve, product-led path from sign-up to a live verification badge — typically in under 24 hours.
The verification chain
From application to ShieldMark, one traceable chain.
Nothing appears on a public profile unless it can be traced back through this sequence to a piece of evidence, a review decision and a date.
- 01
Application
A business submits its details and the domain it wants verified.
- 02
Business record
Those details become a single business record: legal name, registration number, country and website.
- 03
Fields checked
The record is split into individual fields, each checked on its own rather than as a whole.
- 04
Evidence
Every field is matched to a named evidence source — registry, automated check, document or manual review.
- 05
Supporting documents
Where a field needs documentary proof, the business uploads it and it is held against that field.
- 06
SOFTRE review decision
A SOFTRE reviewer assesses the evidence for each field and records the outcome. Nothing self-declared is published as verified.
- 07
Verification date
Each decision is stamped with the date it was made and the date the next review falls due.
- 08
Public proof profile
Verified fields, evidence sources and dates are published on a public profile anyone can open.
- 09
ShieldMark
The domain-locked badge links straight back to that profile, so the chain can be walked in reverse.
What that looks like for you, step by step.
- 01
Start your free trial
Sign up with your email — no credit card required. Your 30-day trial begins immediately.
- 02
Submit your website
Tell us the domain you want to verify. ShieldMark is domain-locked, so this is where your badge will live.
- 03
Add your business details
Confirm your business name, registered identity, address and authorised representative.
- 04
Verify domain ownership
Add a single TXT record to your DNS so we can confirm you control the site.
- 05
Review trust signals
We review submitted information against available evidence and surface any document gaps.
- 06
Activate ShieldMark
Drop the badge snippet into your website footer. Buyers and partners can now click to verify.
- 07
Publish your proof profile
Your public Business Proof Profile goes live with verified details and a correction request pathway.
- 08
Upgrade when ready
After 30 days, move to Starter, Growth or Scale to keep your badge live and unlock more depth.