Drafting Your Contact Page
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In the last post in my Planning a Website the Organized Way series, I talked about different ways of connecting with your website visitors. This is a very important part of forming relationships, but today we’re going to take it a step further.
It’s highly recommended that you display your primary phone number and/or email address prominently in your header and/or footer. In addition, make sure users can link directly to a dedicated contact page that lists all the ways you can be reached.
If you work within a specific region, your contact page should mention the geographic locations that you serve. This lets prospective clients know that you’re in their area and increases the likelihood of your site coming up in the results when they include this information in their search query.
Your contact page may include local and toll-free telephone numbers, mobile phone, Skype, email, and/or snail mail addresses.
The more information you can provide, the more secure you make customers feel because if something goes wrong with a product or service, they know how to reach you.
Source: Afraid to Put Your Contact Info on Your Site? You Could Be Losing Sales, Joan Stewart, Entrepreneur.com
If you have a brick-and-mortar business, provide the full address and possibly a map – ideally one that will allow them to look up directions from their own location.
When you publish your email address online, be aware that you are exposing it to spammers. You can protect your email address by using a contact form, but some people will not be willing to fill out a form, so be sure to provide an alternate method of contact.
Using a contact form also allows you to ask key questions up front, reducing the number of emails back and forth. Just don’t make the mistake of asking so many questions that people get frustrated or feel that you’re being intrusive.
There are many different tools you can use to create contact forms, but my favorite is the Gravity Forms form builder plugin for WordPress. It integrates with email marketing services such as MailChimp, AWeber, and iContact, so people can sign up for your list simply by checking a box on your contact form.
For inspiration, take a look at 25 Amazing Contact Us Pages on Search Engine Journal.
What do you like to see on a contact page?
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Spot on, again! Thank you for that information. I edited my contact page to make it more friendly, less secretive.
Good job, Maureen! I particularly like where you mention you’ll respond within two days. That’s helpful for people to know! If their inquiry is more urgent than that, they have the alternative of calling you instead.
I love your contact page Janet, especially the clock. Mine definitely needs some work.
Thank you, Jill! I was thinking of getting rid of the clock… maybe I should reconsider.
Great series Janet! I’m so glad you mentioned the contact info in the header or footer because I have mine on my header and was worried it would be weird! Thank you for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge to those of us who are lacking 🙂 Great post!
I think the header is the perfect spot as no one can miss it there. (Do as I say, not as I do 😉 )
I’m so inspired by these great examples… I can definitely do better. I’m adding it to my list to make this page better. Another great post in this series, Janet!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
I hadn’t realized how many aspects should go into a Contact page. I perused yours, Janet, and I like the questions you pose to prospective clients. I do much of that in my phone intake. But what I might incorporate into my Contact page are my business hours, just to remind folks that I only do this nights/weekends (for now!). I do have it listed on my FAQ page, but it bears repeating. Thanks!
That’s a great idea, Sarah. Not everyone will read your FAQ page.
My contact page (as is the case with all my pages) could probably stand to be reviewed and refreshed. I’ll be taking a look at the examples you provided. P.S. I like your clock too, right next to your office hours, particularly as you work virtually with people in different time zones. It helps sets the expectation that they might not hear back from you immediately their time. I think I want a clock too! 🙂
That’s a good idea, especially now that you’re offering virtual organizing services. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with!
OK, I’ve decided against the clock, for now, but I did add my TimeTrade link for scheduling calls, and made several other small changes including adding my social media links, ala example #12.
Good job, Hazel – especially adding the TimeTrade link!