As technology has evolved, how have you made your Web site more user friendly for customers to do business with you?
Instead of depending on technology to create a user-friendly environment, I’ve done three things so new readers feel welcomed and regular readers feel engaged:
1. The blog has a home page that clearly states how my content will help them reach their objectives.
2. I keep the blog simple in design. There are a few navigation items pointing to my most popular past content but everything new is content-driven and value-driven.
3. Setting clear intentions and expectations lets readers quickly understand what they’ll expect as future readers and subscribers.
How has Web-based communications changed the way you communicate with your employees?
While I don’t have employees, I do have regular readers. Web-based communications like Twitter and LinkedIn are simple and powerful tools that allow one to not only communicate brand messages, but to drive traffic to one’s blog.
What is the Web technology level of expectation of your customers or clients and how have you met them?
The expectation is on the content side; not on the technology. I have purposefully kept the blog “low-tech” so readers can experience the content without “interference.”
They can also share it with their networks. Technology is important and has its place, no doubt, but my blog technology mantra is: “less is more.”
Is e-advertising something you presently use for your business or see your company using in the future?
I don’t advertise on my blog nor do I generate any income from blogging. Being commercial-free allows me an intellectual freedom that I really enjoy.
I think the readers enjoy a commercial-free blog as well. Will I advertise in the future? Who knows. It’s not in the plans for now.
Do you use any social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) presently, and do you see any useful business applications for your company?
I currently use Twitter and LinkedIn. For me, Twitter is great for two things: sharing my assorted interests in life to lots of people at once, and driving traffic to my blog.
LinkedIn, on the other hand, helps me to provide a deeper connection with fewer people in my network. LinkedIn is a place where I can keep my close-knit community informed of my happenings.
Social networking offers endless business applications. Here are a few ideas that can be used by almost any business: sharing branding statements, gathering customer feedback, promoting interviews with partners, announcing upcoming events, creating local meet-ups, sharing business tips to help potential customers, etc.
Company name: Thomas R. Clifford
Industry: Corporate Communications
Web Site: www.directortom.com
