GPI 152 – Your website is boring; ask what is wrong and do it quickly.

Most websites are lousy and do not invite the reader to return.  Just because you have a company does not mean you need to have a website, other than for general information.  If you want to do more than that, you risk perturbing your customers; if you do not interest them to come back.  To find out what is wrong with your website, ask questions and do it every day.  Listen to all comments because they are relevant.

Questions and considerations for improving your website:

• If you speak another language, would you like for the website to be offered in another language?
• Would you like to see foreign words added to the search bar?
• Did you like the company website?  If not why?
• Was it easy to find the toll-free telephone number?  Did you call the number?
• If you wanted to contact the company, was it easy to do so from the website?  Does more information need to be posted in a conspicuous place on the screen?
• Was there a call to action at nearly every screen change?  Was it easy to know what to do next, step by step?  If not, discuss which web page was confusing or loses the visitor?  What can be improved or added?
• Was it easy to navigate on the website?  Was it easy to find what you wanted?
• Did the data search work?  Was the data search missing the terms you entered?  What terms did you enter that came up missing or not found?  Did you find what you were looking for?  If not, what did you not find?
• Did the website’s search engine work well or poorly, compared to other similar websites?
• What would you like to see about the search function on the company’s website that could be improved?
• Did you want to stay on the website or did you have an urge to leave?
• Was the website boring?  Interesting?  What was missing in your opinion?
• Did the company website make you want to return or give up and leave?
• Was it easy to find the items you wanted to buy, or to find the items in which you were interested?
• Did you learn anything new about the company from the website?  What did you learn?
• What did you want to learn that you did not?
• Is the information that you learned on the company website relevant to you as a potential customer?  Did it make you change your mind about the company?
• Was it easy enough to review the items thoroughly enough to buy them on the website?  If not, what is the reason you would not buy them from this company website?  Are these items you would not buy on the internet, regardless of the website?
• If you do buy these types of items from the internet, do you buy them often or is this the first time?
• Did the website make it easy to decide to buy or purchase the items?
• Did you call the toll-free 800 number for assistance? Was it easy to find the number to call for help or assistance?
• Did you call the company for any assistance or talk to any inside sales personnel?
• Was the website understandable and easy to follow?
• Even if the website did not feature your native language, were there enough illustrations to allow you to understand what was being sold?
• What about the website made you decide not to buy?
• Did the website make you feel uncomfortable about buying any of the products?
• Was there any time or point while on the website that you wondered what to do next because the site’s instructions were not clear and did not seem to be intuitive?
• If the instructions were not clear, was this the reason you did not buy?
• If you did not buy, what was the reason?
• Were you not looking for the product, but just browsing?
• Were you not impressed with the product offerings?  Why not?
• Was there something about the products with which you were not pleased or you wish were different?  Please describe what items need to be changed.  Describe how they should be changed.
• Was there any screen that was not clear concerning what to do next or what options were available to you?  Which screen was the problem screen?
• If you want to offer any comments or criticism, write your complaints or suggestions here.  We will include you in our monthly suggestion contest (prepaid debit cards awarded for great ideas from our customers).