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.
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.)
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.
Provide interactivity to your visitors-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.
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.
Personalize any and all outgoing communication. You
may even add a personal touch to auto responder
messages. 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.
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:addmeplease@sendfree.com. AllPro BizOps, Proven Business Secrets That Work Online.
http://www.allprobizops.com