Website Feedback Mechanisms

To get a real conversation going with web site visitors providing a simple way for them to give you feedback is a highly advisable. Whether this is a simple contact method gain more information about the organization or a specific request of more information about a service or product, giving users a way to get in touch with the people on "the other side" of the web site is very important.

• Avoid posting an email address. Not only do spamming organizations surf the web looking for email addresses on web pages, some members of the organization may not want their email address published because of privacy concerns. Instead post forms.
• Website forms guide users as to the information you would like to get from them. To be sure a minimum amount of information is gathered specific fields in the form can be required to be filled out before the information can be submitted.
• The data users submit using a form can be emailed to a specific address - behind the scenes - or automatically logged in a database for later retrieval. Databases are slightly better, in that, the information can be conveniently accessed and the data can be quickly imported into programs like Microsoft Excel allowing for easy sorting and data management.

Think forms are just a was users can request information from a web site - think again. To gather information about how web site customers rate the web site why not ask them to fill out a simple survey? Offer an incentive to them for taking the time to fill it out; the information people are willing to give up can be surprising.

In addition to forms and surveys, think about providing a forum where users of the web site can discuss relevant topics. When executed properly, this can be a powerful addition to an overall web site presence. This will provide a way to truly get into the heads of the people using the web site. This will provide a way for the site to better serve the users. A word of caution though. These forums (call them Bulletin Boards, user forums or whatever) need to be moderated. Some visitors will post inappropriate information, or post advertisements of services - guaranteed. A good way to get around this is to open up the system for all to read, but require individuals who would like to post a topic or comment, to register first. Make sure resources to monitor this system have been planned for.