Contact Information & Other Fixable Issues for Websites

Recently, I encountered an issue by complete accident while attempting to find something that should be very easy to find: contact information. 

Several of the websites I visited made it extremely difficult to find the contact information, while others did not disclose the contact information at all. Companies must understand the frustration that browsers feel when they simply want to send an email. A contact form is awesome, however, organizations should always include a general inquiry contact email on the front page of their websites. Phone numbers are essential contact information to include as well, but not everyone is interested or has the time to pick up the phone.

Along with the absence of contact information, here are a few other 'issues' I discovered:
  • Horizontal navigational menus that open sub-menus longer than the page, causing the user to scroll to reveal entire menu, is not the best option. Consider switching to vertical navigational menus or grouping information more efficiently.
  • Music or videos loading on homepages are not the best option either for bandwidth purposes. Also, the user may immediately click off the site if they cannot find the stop button fast enough. 
  • Scrolling text can be annoying.
  • Contact forms with several required fields may also deter prospective clients and / or interested readers.
  • Conflicting color fonts and too much bolded or underlined texts.
Have you ever encountered an issue while viewing a website that could easily be resolved?

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

The Problem and Solution to Facebook Groups



 
On one hand, you do not want to remove yourself because it can be considered a social networking faux pas, offending people that are potential clients, or even genuine friends. But on the other hand, there is the time and productivity issue.

Facebook Groups are a wonderful invention for the group moderator to have a captive audience, share ideas, events, and common interests. For businesses, it has proven to be a largely successful tool in the arsenal of the entrepreneur for marketing, soliciting customer feedback, and exchanging ideas while brainstorming. The point is that they can be used for any purpose. Groups can be closed or open, depending on the goal of the group, and posting abilities can be changed based on the purpose of the group as well. 

Sounds great, so what is the problem
The problem with Facebook Groups are that they require more time than busy professionals have or want to spend. If you have just 200 friends, and only 10 of them add you to a group, imagine the time. This brings up another issue -- people can add you to a group without even asking you. This is the marketing departments greatest angle but the entrepreneurs worst nightmare.

Another issue is that many groups do not give out instructions, set rules, or make the goal of the group clearly defined when adding members. Of the several groups that I am privileged to be a part of, only one made it a requirement to read and comment that the introduction statement was clearly read and understood. 

I have come up with a few solutions to these issues for business people, that can help maintain the connections made on Facebook but keep productivity up and distractions down during the work day.
  • Immediately Edit Settings when joining or after being added to a group. This will allow you to set up how often you receive notifications, the email address they go to, and whether or not you will receive them for threads you are subscribed to or group messages. 
  • Set a time during the week that you will check in with the groups and like posts, read articles and links posted, and interact with the members. Attempting to do this daily will greatly reduce your productivity.
  • For groups that spark your interest and you desire to interact with more often, copy the email address into your contact list for email to send messages to the group without having to log in to the 600 million+ member site.
  • Make sure you are not posting links and soliciting feedback when you are inactive.
  • Remove yourself from any groups that do not interest you, or that you find too time consuming without benefit.
What are your strategies to maintain valuable connections and your productivity when using Facebook Groups? Do share.



ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

What Can You Learn From Your Competitor?


Learning from the competition is an advantage to any business in any industry. Doing a little research on their background and studying their habits will net more knowledge than most two year college degrees. Let's look at Google and Yahoo for an example. Yahoo! dominated the search engine and web presence industry for a long while. But when Google came on the scene, they provided everything that Yahoo! had not noticed was in demand. They also recognized avenues to produce revenue that had been overlooked.


Here are a few tactics businesses can use to turn their competitors into educators:
  • Study how effectively they reach their target market and the strengths of their approach to meeting customers needs
  • Perform a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis on their product or service 
  • Stay abreast of press coverage and their community involvement, donations, and charitable causes and overall attitude towards social responsibility
  • Set a goal to learn not criticize, being objective and implementing strategy that will yield results
  • Read their blogs and social media sites to glean any helpful advice they may offer
  • Take a step back from the business mindset long enough to be a consumer and assess room for improvement
  • Make a list of why a customer would choose your competitor over you
  • What does the competitor supply that the market demands?
  • What does the competitor lack that the market demands?
  • What processes could your business benefit from?
  • Look at price -- would adjusting prices cause customers to perceive more value from your company or feel overcharged?
  • What type of overhead could be cut out from company expenses?

Continue reading on Examiner.com 



ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

Local Contractor Accused of Theft, Five Quick Tips to Avoid Contracting Pitfalls


"It could happen to anyone" is a common phrase when discussing business deals that go sour or contracts that are not fulfilled. Local contractor Bruce Randoll Merryman  of a Helotes-based construction firm is facing 20 years in prison if found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, for misappropriation of funds paid to him, and failing to hold up his end of the contract. There are at least four customers lined up to add credibility to a claim that he received payment in excess of $48,000 for a project he never completed. 

Continue reading on Examiner.com.




ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

Choosing the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business

Several platforms provide businesses with opportunities to expand operations, advertise, market and gain valuable information about their target markets. Be aware that using every platform may be advantageous for some businesses and industries, while using only one or two will provide maximum benefit for other businesses. Let's take a look at some popular platforms and their best uses for your business:

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, & Youtube best uses for your business.

Continue reading on Examiner.com 



ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

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