Feedback
Hello all. They say we had a three day weekend. I'm still trying to figure out how the weekends can go by so fast. I did manage a little R and R as well as a few additions to the web site.
About the feedback, I've always asked for feedback on my site in hopes that I can make it a better place to be and maybe a little more useful too. I haven't received much. Why should a person take time out of their day to help me improve my web site? Yesterday I received an email from a very kind lady who was offering feedback.... good feedback. One might think that "good feedback" is the kind of feedback that tells you how wonderful your site is and how you shouldn't change a thing. Well, if it were honest, that would be nice but theres always room for improvement so, we need outside help.
Don't we get this from friends and family? Are you kidding? They're all afraid of hearing about it 40 years from now when you're sitting in your wheelchairs on the lawn at Shady Pines. Or picture the scene at Thanksgiving when the family is passing the gravy boat around. It could get ugly!
This week I received a random email with a subject line suggesting it contained web site feedback. Wow... I clicked. What did this oh-so-kind person have to say about my site? LOSE the background image! She was nicer than that but to the point. It came in the form of humor, which I can always appreciate. There was something about having to put on a visor to block the glare from the background image. Great visual!
How did I respond, besides with sincere thanks? First, in an attempt to save the eyesight of any unsuspecting individual that might happen upon my site, I removed the background image. I loved that image. It was one of my first creative moments on my web site journey. As nice as I thought it might have been at one time, I had been considering losing it for a plain background. This was like a sign from the web godesses. It's gone! I know where it is if I have withdrawls. I can sit quietly in the dark and light up the neighborhood admiring it.
So, why would I take advice from a random "feedback" email? First, I had been looking for a nudge. It turns out my instincts in following this advice were right. This doesn't happen every day but this particular individual turned out to be a web developer for a very nice web site belonging to a large state university. I won't give any names or web sites without her permission but I'm thankful for her time and thoughts. I need all the help I can get.
How can I get more of this feedback? It has been suggested that I add a customer survey to my site. I think I have that available with my hosting package. I'll see about that and add it to my list of pages and options I would like to see on my site.... the list is getting longer but it forces me to learn new skills as I work my way through.
In the meantime, I'm hunting down the background images that are hiding in my shopping cart templates. And I still have long lists of products to add for purchase online. I'm concentrating on the new fall arrivals and working other items in as time allows.... and painting the kitchen.
Thanks again web goddess for your comments and suggestions.
Till next time,
Sandy
This post is filed under By Merchants, For Merchants and has the following keyword tags: feedback, customer service.
