“Contact page? You must be kidding. What’s there to write?”
Good things come through your contact page. I’ve gotten clients, media interviews, speaking opportunities and more, all from that little form on the contact page.
Here’s a 5-point checklist for a Contact Page that delivers:
(1) Do you have a page that says “Contact” or “Get in Touch” or “Talk to me?”
If you’ve got a page set up, you’re already ahead of the game. Recently I was trying to track someone down to be part of a joint venture event. I read her bio and listened to her video. She was perfect.
But as I tried to find her, I began to wonder if she’d been inducted into the Hidden Witness program or entered a cloistered convent. There was absolutely no contact information anywhere. Finally I sent a message via one of the social media platforms, hoping she’d check in.
If you’re so successful or so exclusive that you don’t ever want people reaching out to you, that’s a great strategy. If not, make sure your web developer gives you a contact page.
(2) What’s on your page?
One marketer includes detailed instructions of what to do if you’re dropped off the email list, if you’ve got clients or if you’ve got product access questions. He even makes a list of people he doesn’t want to hear from, including students (“I do not offer free marketing plan examples”); web optimization services (“No thanks”); and link exchanges (Please don’t contact me”).
Another marketer takes the opposite route. He points out that he lives in a certain city in the US but does business all over the world. “Got a phone? Got the internet? We’re good to go!” His message is warm and friendly, but he communicates clearly that he’s only interested in serious prospects.
I’ve found that it’s helpful to get specific. For instance, I welcome calls from reporters who are on assignment. I’m thrilled with opportunities to speak. And setting limits – directly or subtly – saves a lot of hassle.
(3) Do you have a form for people to complete?
For some reason, many people seem to like filling out a form in preference to clicking on an email address. Also, the form helps you collect information that you might not get otherwise.
To add a form, check first with your email service provider. You need a form that allows input as a “textarea” field. Some service providers make it easy to do this.
(4) Will visitors find your page easy to use?
If your audience uses mobile services (which is almost anyone, these days), make sure your page registers as mobile-friendly. The best way to do this is to use a premium theme that’s set up to be responsive, i.e., readable on many devices. Pick a theme that you like out of the box.
As you customize a theme, you can lose responsiveness. When you hire a tech support person, make sure you choose someone who knows exactly how to code your theme to be responsive. It probably won’t be cheap.
For international customers, a nice touch is to put your country code in front of the phone number, so they won’t have to look it up.
(5) Is your page simple?
Once you’ve gotten started, it’s easy to start embellishing the page. Big companies often need to set up a series of options, such as, “Service Questions,” “Pre-Sales Questions,” and “Billing Questions.”
When you’re a small business, it’s best to keep things simple. You can have all questions directed to you or to your virtual assistant, who will then sort things out.
A surprising number of successful business owners remain hands-on when it comes to client contact. “It just feels more personal,” they say, and they’re right. Clients can get annoyed, especially if they’ve paid substantial sums to you over a period of years.
When you do use an assistant, it’s important to choose someone who’s warm and friendly. Give that person the authority to make decisions about waiving charges and giving refunds. Clients understand that you can’t always be there for them in person, but they don’t want to feel that you think they’re a nuisance.
By the way, if you’ve been putting off that web makeover, check out my services and see if we’re a good fit. I write a small number of websites each year and would love to talk about yours. Click here to learn more http://mycopy.info/webdfy
