Add some interactivity to your website

As the internet gets more and more competitive, building an interactive website is more important than ever. What is an interactive website? Simply put, it’s a website which lets its visitors respond and interact, rather than just a static website which doesn’t offer the opportunity for feedback or interaction from the visitor. To get you started, here are a few tried and tested ways you can boost your website.

#1 – A community forum. A forum isn’t difficult to add to your website, and there’s even free software if you can’t afford to buy one. Once you have your forum in place, you’ll need to be vigilent to make sure queries are answered and that the forums don’t stagnent.

It’s worth noting that forums can be difficult to get off the ground, and maintaining them does take time and effort. Many forums get plagued by spammers so you need to make sure the software is upgraded regularly.

But don’t let that put you off; an active forum is a fantastic addition to your website. Just go into it knowing the pros and cons of having one.

#2 – Add a blog. A blog is another fantastic addition to your website. Search engines love blogs because they can be a source of fresh, updated content. A blog is also a great place for your visitors to leave comments and interact with you on a personal level.

#3 – Twitter and Facebook. These two seem to go hand in hand and both are great tools for building a loyal following of friends and fans on the internet. Similar to a blog, Twitter and Facebook entries can be a little more personal.

However, don’t forget to add business posts to your personal side as well if your end goal is to increase your business. An important point to note is that your personal information will be on display for all to see. Before posting, always ensure that you’re happy for any current or potential customer to view your posts.

Add your Twitter and Facebook information to your web pages to make it easy for your visitors to find you.

#4 – Start a newsletter. If you haven’t done so, this is one of the best interactive tools for your business. Not only does a newsletter allow you to freely communicate with your visitors and potential customers over and over again, but it’s also a great way to receive feedback for your business.

If you monitor your emails on a regular basis and put a system for replying to them in place, then your visitors will feel that there is a “real” person behind the website and this will help them feel more integrated with your business.

#5 – Add a poll. Adding a poll to your web pages or newsletter is a great way for customers and visitors to voice their opinion. It’s also a fantastic way for you to do market research. Regular polls will not only help your visitors feel their voice is heard and that they are part of your website, but will also help you gather important information to potentially help you improve your website and marketing.