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What does interactive mean, then? Let's break it down into components: "inter, " means through (a relationship is established between two objects) and "active, " means it actually does something. Using this definition, a simple email form becomes "interactive. " The user acts upon the form, and the form sends mail. Simply put, it's the cyber version of conversation: exchange in all its forms. You just want the user to leave feeling as if they received something, whether that is a return email, a bit of trivia, or a slideshow. Most of us (including myself) are used to thinking of "interactive" as a Rube Goldberg whiz-bang collection of interactive flash features or auto-checking radial-dot forms that are smarter than we are. Of course, this causes us to push the concept of "interactive, " out of our heads, because it sounds too complicated to be bothered with. But believe me, it's worth pondering (and implementing) at least a few interactive features. Here's a short list of ways to make your site more interactive without drastically increasing download times, or giving yourself a migraine as you attempt to decipher a complicated audio/video/bell and whistle software package. *Weekly newsletters (naturally) *Discussion boards *Professional tips and advice *Printable "coupons" for goods or services (which rewards users for visiting the site) *Calendars *Events related to your website's subject (conferences, speakers, etc. ) *Recipes *Free samples of your product/service *polls and surveys *Frequently updated articles (iSyndicate and FreeContent are two good sources of copy. You can find them at www.isyndicate.com and http://www.egoups.com/group/Free-Content) *Q and A columns, using reader's questions (this should also be updated as frequently as possible) *Quick, reliable customer service *Easily located contact information (name, phone, address, email) *A bio page-if people feel like they're dealing with another person (rather than a borg-bot) that's the original human version of interactivity. *Easy, clear navigation *An order form/catalog/shopping cart that is easy to find, easy to use (and hopefully secure). You've probably already implemented some of these, but if not- what are you waiting for? You've got nothing to lose--except bored, confused users. WHAT MAKES USERS CLICK? Expert Stefene Russell will do a complete analysis of your site, including personalized tips on copy and design. Whether you're an e-business or a content provider, find out how to make your site professional and effective. Get Stefene's free web site tips newsletter at http://FixMyWebsite.com Reach her at stefene@drnunley.com or 801-328-9006.
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