Ms. Rachael Haring is the author of today's WebProNews. She hits
marketing right on the head when she said, "The more interactive and
interesting your site is, the more people will visit, and the longer
your visitors will stay." That is what this article is about--
entertaining your visitors.
I hope that you enjoy Martin's article.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that people like to have fun.
They like to compete, to laugh, to voice their opinions and emotions,
to communicate, and to know that someone is listening. In a word,
they like to interact.
When the web came along, its uniquely interactive possibilities were
touted heavily. Unlike TV or radio, here was a medium where the
customer could choose any one of millions of paths and new products.
By its very nature, the internet facilitated choice, connections,
and instant communication.
So why are so many websites filled with the same drab text links
and impersonal rhetoric? You know the ones: every link is about "Our
Company" and "Our Mission," the layout is dull and static, and
feedback addresses are buried beneath mounds of company policies.
These pages talk at the visitors, not to them.
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That’s where you can be different.
The more interactive and interesting your site is, the more people
will visit, and the longer your visitors will stay. And the longer
your customers stay, the more chances they have to buy. Why not
create a game or a contest to keep them occupied?
SWEEPSTAKES
Let’s start simple. A sweepstakes is nothing more than collecting
names and e-mails, choosing a random winner, and giving out a prize.
Be sure to create a massive amount of hype by submitting your
sweepstakes to every contest directory, and don’t forget to announce
the contest multiple times on your own site.
QUIZZES
Even the most effective quiz or riddle is easy to make; just research
a few facts pertaining to your products or subject matter, and jot
down questions. For extra "stickiness," make sure that the
difficulty level is just about medium, and be sure to tell the
readers that the answers can be found somewhere on the site. That
will encourage them to look at the entire site, increasing their
chances of a transaction.
POLLS AND SURVEYS
These serve a dual purpose: your customers are pleased because they
feel like their opinions count, and you are pleased because the polls
provide you with valuable information about customer demographics
and/or preferences. Give a prize for the most interesting opinion,
or randomly draw a name.
SCAVENGER HUNTS
Scavenger hunts in which an icon is hidden on multiple pages
encourage the visitors to see every part of your website. Whoever
can count the most icons wins a prize! Fun, easy, and highly
interactive.
GUESTBOOKS
Even if you don’t have a game, try to incorporate something which
will let you interact with the customers, like a guestbook, feedback
form, or a bulletin board. Encourage your visitors to leave negative
comments as well as positive. Treat complaints as valuable favors:
they let your visitors vent their frustrations, and they provide
you with insight on how to improve your site.
See? All you need is a little enthusiasm and creativity to convince
your visitors that you are one happenin’ site.
Rachael Haring is the Internet Marketing Assistant for Interflex,
Inc. Interflex provides custom e-business solutions, internet
marketing strategies, and commercial web design. Visit our site
at interflex.net or write rharing@interflex.net for a
free consultation!
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We at the Editorial Team would like to thank all our readers for reading WebProNews.
We hope you find this information useful.
Peter Thiruselvam
Editor
The WebProNews Team
Expert in your field? We're looking for ARTICLES on web site design and
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