|
If you are in an online business with
your own web site, it would help greatly to build an online community with
your visitors. The pathway to a good online community is to build trust in
your visitors, your future customers. Here's a simple formula to get you
started.
1. Sweep the
“front walk” each day as you begin work.
On your site check for “broken links” (links that don't go where you
intended for them to go) and fix them. Test your opening page's load time.
Remove or reduce any images that seem to slow it down. (Reducing images is a
matter of having a service analyze your site for images it can cut down in
number of bites. A good source for this is Spinwave Image Crunchers, http://www.spinwave.com/crunchers.html
2. Ensure your
visitors' return.
Spot-check your copy for errors that may have escaped you previously.
Freshen your copy regularly and somewhere on your page promise weekly
updates. Insert a “this site last updated [date]” statement and keep it
current.
3. Provide
interactivity to your visitors and ways for them to communicate with you.
The two easiest methods are a simple “comments” email link and an online
survey. There are several sites that write interactive forms for just a link
back to their site. The one I use on my site is Freedback.com, http://www.freedback.com
4. Respond to
your prospects as they write in.
Answer each email or send a thank you for each survey responded to with a
personal email of your own.
5. Personalize
any and all outgoing communication.
You may even add a personal touch to auto responder messages.
6. Let your
customers know you are there to help.
If your product is the solution to their desire, all's the better. But if
you need to refer them elsewhere, don't be afraid to find where to send them
and do so. Your reputation as an honest, sincere businessperson will grow as
a result.
7. When you
make sales, be sure and thank your customer personally for their purchase. Here's
a great opportunity to make “back-end” sales. Offer them coupons or
special prices on your other products. Ask for questions or concerns and a
testimonial from your customer. They will no doubt tell others about you and
your high level of trust.
These are just a few steps on the pathway to online community and trust.
As your knowledge and skills improve, no doubt you will learn more about
this topic. But do look for ways to foster trust in your prospects and
customers. In so doing relationships with them develop that will improve
your online efforts over and over.
About the Author:
Brian Moore publishes 'BizOps
Secrets', a complete ezine resource for online success. Subscribe and
receive a free 5 line classified ad. Here’s the address: mailto:add_me_please@sendfree.com
or visit his site at AllPro BizOps, http://www.allprobizops.com
| 
