Power up your Contact Page for better Web Site Results, Part II

When it is time to create a contact page that really puts your web site to work for you, it is probably time to go beyond simply having e-mail links. It is probably time to develop a contact "Form" that collects important visitor information while at the same time, allowing them to voice their interests or questions.

Forms generally are driven by some type of CGI -- Common Gateway Interface. While there are numerous CGI mechanisms, one of the most frequently used is the scripting language, Perl. Perl "scripts" are actually programs written to behave in a certain way so that web pages can interact with (and even react to) visitors.

Although it is a programming language, you need not be a programmer to use them. Many Web Host Providers will provide sets of CGI scripts that you can use on your web site. Some have automated "install" features that build a template you can use as the beginning of your form. (While forms can be used for any interaction you want such as placing on-line orders, they are very frequently part of contact pages.)

Besides your ISP, ready to use CGI scripts can be found free on the web. One well known resource is Matts Script Archive.

http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/

Of special interest for the topic of contact pages is Matts "formmail" CGI based on Perl. In fact, many Web Host Providers use this script (or a very similar script) as their freely installed contact form. If your Web Host Provider offers to install a formmail CGI, it would be worth checking out Matts script and any configuration directions provided by the Web Host Provider. If it turns out to be the same script, you will want to print Matts Readme file for reference.

http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/readme/formmail.shtml

If your Web Host Provider does not provide a formmail equivalent, installation of this script (or any other) is not too difficult. Basically, you will need to download the script to your computer, open it up in a text editor and make one or two changes. All Perl based CGI will need to have the first line edited to tell it where it will find the Perl interpreter. Your Web Host Provider will have to tell you the "path" and you will edit the script appropriately.

Refer to any documentation that goes with your formmail CGI for additional modifications. It is likely you will need to specify a path to the part of the server that handles mail. On a UNIX server, a tool called "sendmail" is frequently used. Your Web Host Provider should be able to tell you how to configure this feature as well.

After the changes are made so the program will run on your server, you then FTP it into the "CGI bin" on your server. Again, your Web Host Provider should provide some directions on where this is on your server. (If they cannot provide this kind of support, either from a phone call or on-line documentation, consider the value of their service.... Perhaps you should find a Web Host Provider with better support?)

Next you must modify the form that the visitor is going to see. This is a simple matter of placing the desired HTML form elements into the page. With very little trouble, you can have a contact form that invites visitors to ask information of you, while at the same time, allowing you to make sure you get enough information from them to quickly and accurately respond to their inquiry.

In many formmail configurations, there is a "hidden" HTML form object that designates to whom the submitted information should be sent. In some cases, (e.g. Matts Formmail) this object need not be hidden. Instead, a selector could be used to designate multiple addressees. Check out these two examples -- ours and a clients:

http://www.web-net-solutions.com/Contact/index.html
http://www.ajitel.com/contact.html

In these examples, combining Javascript with the basic form template allowed the forms to work better by directing inquiries to the person best suited to respond. As a result, visitors get a reply sooner and are, hopefully, happier as a result.

Using CGI forms on your contact page is a great way to improve their usefulness. Not only do visitors have a chance to contact you, you get a chance to guide them in providing you with information needed to best respond.

Deciding how you want visitors to your web site to react is an important development decision. Regardless of your choice, your site should include a clear, easy to find link to a contact page. While using a "mailto" link is nearly a must, the use of some type of CGI form extends the power of your web site to more specifically interact with your visitors. While installing CGI is not hard, it does warrant setting aside an afternoon to learn how if you have never done it (or you can contract with someone to do it for you). Including an address and, perhaps, a map will help visitors find your location and increase the likelihood that they will actually visit your business.

Applying these ideas to your web site will help your site serve your needs better. Power up your contact page! Make it work for you.

About the Author

Cameron Walker is a partner in Web-Net Solutions, a company dedicated to helping businesses get the most from technology. He is the senior programmer of the firm and also works with local clients to meet their networking needs. Web-Net Solutions offers small to medium businesses the chance to access top level technical support, state of the art web design, and customized programming without the need to hire full time technical personnel.

Web-Net Solutions
Web Site Design - Networking - Support

901-213-3768
www.web-net-solutions.com
Power up your Contact Page for better Web Site Results, Part II

When it is time to create a contact page that really puts your web site to work for you, it is probably time to go beyond simply having e-mail links. It is probably time to develop a contact "Form" that collects important visitor information while at the same time, allowing them to voice their interests or questions.

Forms generally are driven by some type of CGI -- Common Gateway Interface. While there are numerous CGI mechanisms, one of the most frequently used is the scripting language, Perl. Perl "scripts" are actually programs written to behave in a certain way so that web pages can interact with (and even react to) visitors.

Although it is a programming language, you need not be a programmer to use them. Many Web Host Providers will provide sets of CGI scripts that you can use on your web site. Some have automated "install" features that build a template you can use as the beginning of your form. (While forms can be used for any interaction you want such as placing on-line orders, they are very frequently part of contact pages.)

Besides your ISP, ready to use CGI scripts can be found free on the web. One well known resource is Matts Script Archive.

http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/

Of special interest for the topic of contact pages is Matts "formmail" CGI based on Perl. In fact, many Web Host Providers use this script (or a very similar script) as their freely installed contact form. If your Web Host Provider offers to install a formmail CGI, it would be worth checking out Matts script and any configuration directions provided by the Web Host Provider. If it turns out to be the same script, you will want to print Matts Readme file for reference.

http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/readme/formmail.shtml

If your Web Host Provider does not provide a formmail equivalent, installation of this script (or any other) is not too difficult. Basically, you will need to download the script to your computer, open it up in a text editor and make one or two changes. All Perl based CGI will need to have the first line edited to tell it where it will find the Perl interpreter. Your Web Host Provider will have to tell you the "path" and you will edit the script appropriately.

Refer to any documentation that goes with your formmail CGI for additional modifications. It is likely you will need to specify a path to the part of the server that handles mail. On a UNIX server, a tool called "sendmail" is frequently used. Your Web Host Provider should be able to tell you how to configure this feature as well.

After the changes are made so the program will run on your server, you then FTP it into the "CGI bin" on your server. Again, your Web Host Provider should provide some directions on where this is on your server. (If they cannot provide this kind of support, either from a phone call or on-line documentation, consider the value of their service.... Perhaps you should find a Web Host Provider with better support?)

Next you must modify the form that the visitor is going to see. This is a simple matter of placing the desired HTML form elements into the page. With very little trouble, you can have a contact form that invites visitors to ask information of you, while at the same time, allowing you to make sure you get enough information from them to quickly and accurately respond to their inquiry.

In many formmail configurations, there is a "hidden" HTML form object that designates to whom the submitted information should be sent. In some cases, (e.g. Matts Formmail) this object need not be hidden. Instead, a selector could be used to designate multiple addressees. Check out these two examples -- ours and a clients:

http://www.web-net-solutions.com/Contact/index.html
http://www.ajitel.com/contact.html

In these examples, combining Javascript with the basic form template allowed the forms to work better by directing inquiries to the person best suited to respond. As a result, visitors get a reply sooner and are, hopefully, happier as a result.

Using CGI forms on your contact page is a great way to improve their usefulness. Not only do visitors have a chance to contact you, you get a chance to guide them in providing you with information needed to best respond.

Deciding how you want visitors to your web site to react is an important development decision. Regardless of your choice, your site should include a clear, easy to find link to a contact page. While using a "mailto" link is nearly a must, the use of some type of CGI form extends the power of your web site to more specifically interact with your visitors. While installing CGI is not hard, it does warrant setting aside an afternoon to learn how if you have never done it (or you can contract with someone to do it for you). Including an address and, perhaps, a map will help visitors find your location and increase the likelihood that they will actually visit your business.

Applying these ideas to your web site will help your site serve your needs better. Power up your contact page! Make it work for you.

About the Author

Cameron Walker is a partner in Web-Net Solutions, a company dedicated to helping businesses get the most from technology. He is the senior programmer of the firm and also works with local clients to meet their networking needs. Web-Net Solutions offers small to medium businesses the chance to access top level technical support, state of the art web design, and customized programming without the need to hire full time technical personnel.
Web Site Design - Networking - Support
Web-Net Solutions 901-213-3768 or to contact see details below.


walker@web-net-solutions.com
www.web-net-solutions.com