Comments on: Is Your Website Listening?

By: cleaning business

cleaning business — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:27:28 +0000

Thanks for the reminder to do more of this! Our cleaning business consulting website is very interactive, but can always be more so!

By: Kelley Mitchell

Kelley Mitchell — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:01:49 +0000

It looks like I have some work to do.

By: Tom Now

Tom Now — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:41:03 +0000

Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback!

Kip - fantastic to hear that you will be including a blog right on the home page. A blog can be a powerful way to connect with your audience. For example, if you enable Comments, readers will be able to respond immediately to blog posts. Also, you can include polls, surveys, requests for ideas, etc. in your blog to deepen your two-way communication with your audience.

-Tom

By: Kip Marlow

Kip Marlow — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:27:10 +0000

Tom- Your article was great and very timely for me. The Entrepreurs Club of America is building a new site and now will at the very least have a blog, right on the home page.

Thanks

By: Matt Chatterley

Matt Chatterley — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:13:34 +0000

Very true.

Connecting with the customer is essential - although the best ways to do so vary depending on the context. For example in the realms of eCommerce, building customer trust is critical - therefore clear display of valid, relevant contact details (and easy ways to connect) are vital.

For us, it’s more important that we make it clear to the customer how to get in touch, as well as offering them lots of information to digest! At the end of teh day, websites are by and large sales tools - and if they don’t connect you to the customer, what use are they?

By: Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:42:28 +0000

Thanks for the advise. I think it is always important to get feedback from both clients and potential clients. There are many ways of structuring it, and this is a great reminder of using technology to get that feedback.

By: Jmes

Jmes — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:10:40 +0000

I couldn’t agree more, Tom.
It is imperative to make your site as user-friendly as possible. This definitely includes the contact options. Make them visible! allow several ways of contacts (Form, Email, Phone and even a physical address)
I also agree that you should give a personal response to people who contact you. There’s nothing more annoying than hearing an automated response, or even worse, a general one.
I feel so discourage to do further business that gives me a general response to my specific case.
Your customers are one of your most valuable assets. Don’t lose them!

Jmes