“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 3-point checklist for your Contact Page:
(1) Do you have a page that says “Contact” or “Get in Touch” or “Talk to me?”
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 exclusive that you don’t ever want people reaching out to you, that’s a great strategy. If not, make sure your copywriter 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 includes links to all her social media pages, instead of a contact form. For some markets, that makes perfect sense. But she doesn’t abandon anyone who’s serious about working with her. She’s got a series of “If – then” statements: “If you’re interested in one-to-one consulting, click here. If you’ve got a question for me, click there.”
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?
When you get a lot of clients from your website, and when most of them are new to your world, it’s a good idea to set up a form. For some reason, many people seem to like filling out a form in preference to clicking on an email address or seeking out social media. 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.
With other services you need to find a plug-in. If you’ve got a lot of plug-ins that slow down your website, just get someone to code up a form that sends replies to your email. It’s not a big job. I get it done for my website clients for $25-$50.
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 and get started.
