Do you smile when you talk to your customers? I was at a networking event recently and someone handed me the most boring, plain jane business card. It had Times New Roman font, no images and zero contact details, except their web address. If I hadn’t just had a really positive conversation with the person, the card would have promptly disappeared under the pile of papers on my desk, never to be noticed again. Since we’d had such a nice chat, however, I ventured over to their website only to find that their website was equally frigid and uninviting — completely different than the wonderful person I’d just met!
In the day and age of consumers directly interacting with and practically befriending businesses through online media, is your website being anti-social?
Social media share options Social Media buttons are a must on websites. If you’re taking the time to manage a Facebook or a Twitter account, make it easy for customers to join the conversation with you! Use prominent buttons to make connecting a cinch. If your business isn’t on Facebook, your customers are. Instead, acknowledge this by including social media share buttons on your blog posts and products. That will allow customers to easily share your brand’s message socially on whichever platforms they prefer. Contact info Don’t be “that guy” who gives a boring, plain text business card with only your web address. Yes, your website is where you want people to end up, but you WANT them to reach you. Make it easy for them! Be social on your website by giving multiple ways of reaching you, and make those details easy to find. Include any open hours and days, as well as your phone number, fax, email and any social media accounts they may be able to use to get in contact with you. Speak their language Do you speak to your customers the same way that you speak to your friends? While you might be a little more reigned in with your language when there’s money on the line, that doesn’t mean the copy on your website needs to be holier than thou art… ma’am. Be interesting! Be real. Use compelling words that will capture your visitors’ attention and make them want to find out more about you and your offerings. Let your website speak to your customers as if inviting them over for a cuppa to discuss a future collaboration, rather than an aloof report of “me me me”. Talk about your customers’ needs and wants, and address them in a way they can relate to. Giving credit where it’s due If you do nothing else after reading this post, do this: Anywhere and everywhere you can, say THANKS! Running a business sure ain’t easy – we’ve all got a lot of people to thank who have helped us along the way. Testimonials are a great way to make your supporters known on your website, while demonstrating to your prospects that you are very good at what you do.
Ask any marketer, and they’ll tell you that social proof is one of their top selling tips.
Are you letting your #1 fans share their rave reviews of your business? If a client has something great to say about you, let them shout it from the rooftops! Or, at the very least, from your website. Make your website more social by including client testimonials and rave reviews about your business. Not only are you benefiting from this, but your clients benefit by having their name on your site. Testimonials also make you look heaps better to prospects, and from a social standpoint, it shows that there’s an ongoing conversation between you and your clients. You don’t always get the chance to have a friendly go-getter chatting up your prospects in person. Your website is the online face of your business. Are you smiling at your customers?
