"WEBMARKETING
TIPS"
Entertain Me! A Guide to Website Interactivity
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.
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.
SK Kor
Internet Marketing Consultant
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