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Had a few discussions about ways to get contact information from Internet visitors lately. There seem to be two schools of thought:
- If someone wants information from my site they’ll have to give up their contact information for it!! After all, I’m not running a charity!!!
- I hate it when I’m on a website and I have to complete a form to get access to information. So, I can’t bring myself to require registration for anything on my site. People will just have to want to contact me!
Hmm . . . How about a middle ground? Give a Little, Take a Little??
Try this exercise the next time you have an idea for adding tips or tools to your website: Write an outline. Now, you probably haven’t written an outline since you were in school, but I’m sure you remember how it goes.
I. First Main Topic
A. First Sub-Topic
B. Second Sub-Topic
II. Second Main Topic
A. First Sub-Topic
B. Second Sub-Topic
And, so on………
Then, take all the Main Topics and summarize them in prose (meaning paragraphs, for example). Take all the Sub-Topics and put them into a checklist or a chart or something a bit spiffier than just paragraphs of content.
Put the Main Topic prose on one of your web pages, followed by an offer for the chart or checklist. Naturally, if you make the prose interesting and valuable enough, people are going to want the details, and they won’t feel put upon if they have to fill out a form to get them.
The best way to do the form is to have the chart sent to the email address the visitor provides immediately after they complete the form. Instant gratification - always a good thing!
So, you give a little and take a little. And, starting a relationship with that person just got a bit easier because you know of at least one topic in which they are very interested!
