Top 10 Tips for Effective Online Business Networking

[fisicx]

Most websites have a series of information pages, articles, t&C, privacy and so on. It is usual to place links to these pages in the primary navigation or footer. Wecando is slightly different.

There is a lot of white space to the right of the login form. Why not put links to the 'useful advice' links there. And when the member has logged in repeat the links. But don't just bung in the links, provide a reason to click:

'To get the best from your membership, follow these 10 tips to market your business'.

When I click on the link the page opens in the main content panel of the page. At the end of the article place a link to take the member to their profile page. And they still have the option to use the main navigation links.

If they want to print the page, make sure your print.css stylesheet strips out all the unnecessary information (which it doesn't at the moment) so all they get is the article.

No PDF, no external site, no pop-ups - no thinking required.

[Purebathrooms]

I am agreed.

[wecando.biz]

Thanks Graham, useful stuff. Tell me, with the pop-up coming up with the Top 10 Tips info, what would you THEN expect to happen? I mean, what would a visitor do with the pop up do you think? And would it distract them from either logging in or registering if they have not previously logged in?

IH

[Chris Butler]

Purebathrooms - not sure what you are agreeing with. Can you let me know?

thanks

Chris

[fisicx]

Can I modify my last reply. The link to the top 10 tips (and other future advice) would only appear after login.

Works like this:

Members logs in as usual. Once they have logged in the message screen appears informing them of any activity on their account (views, endoresments etc). On the right of this would be the 'hint and tips' links. When I click on the these links all that happens is the information appears in the same part of the screen (the 'maincontent' DIV). There is no popup.

The article would contain links to return the member to their profile page and a link to edit their entry.

The member doesn't need to think, everything on the page stays the same all they need to do is read the information and click on trhe link at the bottom to continue.

[wecando.biz]

Graham

So the page we are talking about is this one: https://www.wecando.biz/pilot/my_profile.php

I can see where this would go.

Each of the tips in the original document refers to bits of a user's profile that need attention in turn, and it would be possible to have the tips page linking to those sections as they are discussed.

BUT, if we were showing the tips guide in the main page and they link out to a section mentioned in Tip 1, would that not then replace the tips guide with, say, the edit business profile section so that the tips are then lost?

Have I misunderstood?

Regards


IH

[fisicx]

Now we're cooking.

Effective website navigation is about putting the links in the most useful places. What we are discussing is help for both visitors and members. So you really ought to have links on the help pages (which need a lot of work anyway), on the profile page (but only if the person viewing the page is that member), on the 'edit profile' page, on the my messages page.

When I edit my profile, under the keywords box in the form you could put the anchor text: 'Making the most of your keywords' and link it to tip 2. Under each of the tips have a 'back to your profile' link.

You could also have a link after login. Instead of me going straight to my profile slide a page in between with links to all the hints and tips. Either that or have a biz feed link: new guidance for making the best of your profile.

If a member writes an article, either to provide advice or tell you about how wecando has helped them add a new bizfeed with a link to the document.

This is where you need to look again at the site structure, where best to present information to visitors and how best to display that information.

The project is still in pilot so you won't lose anything by experimenting. Why not put out a bizfeed informing members that you are going to be testing some new links and ask for comments on their effectiveness. It's a networking site so network!

[Chris Butler]

Graham

Some great feedback as always - thanks and keep it coming.

Always happy to receive suggestions but don't think it is always appropriate to be telling people what they 'need'... a little subjective methinks

Again thank you for your continued contribution.

C

[Chris Butler]

Graham

By the way - there are some really very good ideas in your last post.

C

[fisicx]

OK, delete 'need' and add 'suggest'

But the sad fact is that people 'need' to be led by the hand through a website. Treat everybody like an idiot and STBO.