Contact Info, Are you Anonymous or Obvious?

You might think that placing contact information on your web site is a simple process, but you couldnt be more wrong, I see many web sites every day who have absolutely no idea how to include contact info. on their web site, keep in mind the following tips, and you wont go wrong.

Make sure your FULL contact info. is on every page of your web site, visitors hate to search all over a site for a way of contacting you for help or advice.

Clearly state your Name, Postal Address,Telephone/fax/mobile/voicemail number, and your email address. You are trying to build credibility and as you are a total stranger to your prospective clients, make it easy for them to contact you and show them you are a legitimate business with nothing to hide :-) Some prospective client may even go to the lengths of checking with various authorities to see if you are who you say you are.

Try to avoid using Mr/Mrs in your name, use your first and last name. You want to appear friendly and not too formal, dont you?

If at all possible do not use a PO box number, it might protect you from being inundated with lots of mail but would you honestly feel confident spending your hard earned cash with a PO box.

If your have any titles such as MD, MDCA etc. or any other qualifications which shows credibility, use them after your name - in small letters. You need to offer credibility but not overkill.

Always use the International code in your telephone/fax number, you wouldnt believe how many people are just too lazy to ring the operator for the international code, I have even had people email me in the past, asking me to email them the International code! Would you believe it!

Avoid if you can email addresses such as Ceo@yoursite.com or webmaster@yoursite.com, after all who really cares whether you are a Ceo or a Webmaster, it would be better if you offered both email addresses, webmaster@yoursite.com and yourname@yoursite.com, as you will always find some clients like to feel they are dealing with the top dog! But you also need to appear human. The Internet is a cold and alien place and you need to inject some warmth into it.

Always suggest convenient times to call you by telephone, otherwise people will phone you any time night or day, it is even worse if you are in a different time zone to them, I can assure you they will not think of checking. They want an answer and they want it NOW! I would suggest being available personally for only your allotted convenient times, and use an answerphone or voice mail for the rest of the time.

Even if you are a one man band, add email addresses such as support@yoursite.com and sales@yoursite.com, this also adds credibility, even if you are the support and sales staff. Another advantage is that you can organize your incoming email better this way, you will be able to read the sales (hopefully requests for more info or orders first)
before you get on to the Support (problems and complaints).

Make sure you offer every conceivable way of contacting you, use answer phones and voice mail to avoid being constantly disturbed, but always, always return the call at a convenient time (try to aim within 24 hours) and remember to check their time zone first. A disturbed out of his sleep client will suddenly become an ex client.
So it is up to you, whether you remain anonymous or become obvious!

About the Author

Simon Baxter is a marketing consultant and reviewer both online and offline. He is a peoples man and derives great pleasure from helping people reach their goals.

His web site *Net Income Affiliates & Associates Resource Center helps affiliates to do just that. netincomesite.com

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