Your customers are your business.Your business is your customers.
There are things that you don't know about your website.It may
be too darn hard to navigate through your stupid site.One free
item may put a customer over the edge.These little facts may be
the difference between making a sale and losing that person in
cyberspace,forever.And when they're gone,they're gone.

So how do you get this valuable information out of your visitors?
Well,you ask.So how do you ask?Well,I have put together nine
techniques for doing just that and potentially saving your online
endeavor.

Number One.Use surveys and questionaires regularly.Yes,surveys and
questionaires.(did you need me for that?)Well,maybe,because nobody
does it.It fairly simple,you could publish them on your website,in
your ezine or newsletter,or in your direct mail.You could also
include them with products,or post them on message boards and news-
groups.Surveys are often overlooked by home business owners,yet
they are so easy to administer and soooo important.

Number Two.Create an online community for your customers.A place
where they feel free to "let it fly".This could be in the form of
a chat room or message board on your site.As a moderator,you
could see what they are saying,both good and bad,about your business.
Popping in every once in a while to help with a problem or answer
a question will also let them know you are on top of things,

Three.Pick a group of customers and give them your products.(If your
dealing in digital products,this costs nothing.)Ask them to review
the product through an evaluation form and send it back.Many times
they won't,but,hey,the ones that do with provide a goldbrick of info.


Number Four.Offer visitors something free in exchange for some
info.This is a little different from number one in that you will
ask them to fill out a short survey on your website in general
rather than specific questions.This will take a little longer and
may take a bribe.

Five.Invite ten or twenty of your most loyal customers and form
a focus group.Have them meet regularly over pizza,or maybe just
coffee and a couple bucks.This will prove to be super valuable as
they are probably you best source of information.Most of my best
decisions have been made with my focus group.(and we have a good
time!)

Number Six is important.Stay in constant contact with your customers.
Ask them to be notified by E-mail when you make changes to your
site.And after you make a sale,DON'T let them go.That is such a
comon mistake.Follow up with them to make sure they are satisfied.
Unsatisfied customers is a dgger through your online heart.

Seven.Don't make it difficult for your cutomers to contact you.How
many times have you been racing around a site with a burning comment
or question and there is no contact information in sight.You begin to
wonder what kind of operation you're involved in and worse,you never
give your input which was so important at the time.Offer your customers
as many contact methods as possible.Hyperlink your e-mail.Don't make
them type it in.What a pain in the a-- that is.Offer toll free numbers
for phone and fax.When your customer have something to say,you want
to be there to suck that information up like a new sponge.

Number Eight.I like this one.Contact your customers on birthdays or at
least holidays.Send thank you gifts to your lifers or E-mail them
online greeting cards.You could even call them personally if you
want.Then ask them if they are happy with everything.

And Finally.Invite your customers to meetings,luncheons,or workshops.
Even create special events like picnics,dances...etc.The old cocktail
party technique is the tried and true way to get honest feedback
and launch big ideas.

So there you go.That's just nine.I'm sure you can come up with your
own list of creative ways to get that all important data from your
lifeline,Your customers.All I did was get the ball rolling.Happy
Feedback Gathering.






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Article submitted with reprint rights by Sean Schiraldi,owner of http://webcashmoney.com
Your stop for internet marketing software and tons of other stuff.