Using Guest Books To Make Your Site More Interactive

 

              by Sandra Hunter & George Kosch

 

              Imagine a prospect is at your web site and has taken the time to look around. They have

              read all of the available information and like what they’ve seen. Then it’s over. The prospect

              clicks out of your site and in a second is on to someone else’s. What a waste! You’ve

              captured an interested customer, they’ve benefited from your information and now they’ve

              vanished. You’ve invested in a web site and what did you gain? Nothing, other than the

              hint of hope that maybe they’ll come back. So what should you do so prospects don’t slip

              off into cyberspace?

 

              The answer is to have an interactive Guest Book on your site. A Guest Book is basically an

              electronic form that visitors to your site fill out. It provides benefits for both the visitor and

              for you, the web site owner. Through the Guest Book visitors are invited to interact with

              you and provide valuable feedback. As the owner of the web site you can specify what

              information you would like the visitor to leave such as:

 

                   Visitor name, address, phone, e-mail address, etc.

                   Comments about your web site

                   What was valuable at your site

                   What the visitor didn't like or suggestions for improvement

                   Visitor demographic information (age, sex, occupation)

                   How they found out about your site

 

              A guest book provides you with valuable feedback and is a powerful tool for capturing

              visitor information. For example you might offer a free newsletter, a contest entry, or an

              information package on your business to everyone who signs your Guest Book. Or, offer to

              send an announcement when the site is updated or special offers and promotions your

              business may be offering. This way you can create an e-mail or traditional mailing list of

              people who are interested in what you have to offer and if not now, may purchase your

              products or services in the future. You may also wish to add a note to reassure visitors who

              sign your Guest Book that the information they provide will not be misused or exploited.

              Privacy is becoming a big issue on the Internet, and without incentive or assurance some

              visitors may be reluctant to give out information.

 

              There you have it - an economical way to keep in touch with visitors and customers using

              a very basic appealing concept. The result will be many more repeat visitors and you won’t

              lose your prospects in cyberspace. HBM

 

 

              See a guest book in use at the Worldprofit Mall Complex: http://www.worldprofit.com.

              Just select it from the main menu at the top of our home page. Would you like a guest book

              at your site? We can have you set up within 48 hours. Just e-mail George Kosch at

              webmaster@worldprofit.com or see http://www.worldprofit.com/fmdemo.htm and receive

              the information using our autoresponder system.