Do you feel frustrated when you send an email request to another webmaster and it takes them more than a week to answer? Or worse, when they don't answer at all? Now put the shoe on the other foot as guest blogger, Elizabeth Orr, discusses how simple common can benefit your online business.
The ways in which you connect with others as you build your presence on the web has a direct bearing on your reputation and your potential for success.
For example, many of us belong to services through which we connect to exchange links and hopefully, build traffic.
If contacted, it's important to respond politely regardless of whether you intend to accept or reject the request.
You may look at the other site, and decide that you simply don't like it. You may see a site that is full of broken links or that certain areas of the site are still under construction. Perhaps the site topic has no relevance to your own and you see absolutely no value whatsoever in exchanging links.
Don't ignore requests and don't reply with a blunt “no” and dismiss them. Convey rejection in the nicest possible way. The other webmaster may not be aware of a specific error on their site. Let them know. The benefit of the doubt doesn't hurt in a sentence or two.
No-one is expecting you to become an instant mentor, but suggestions for improvement are almost always welcome. Leave the door open for a future exchange after changes have been made that makes the other site more relevant to your readers.
If you have offered the option on your site for readers to ask questions, you have the responsibility of responding in a timely manner.
Answer as completely as you can, and if you don't know the answer, be honest enough to say so. Make an effort to find an answer or direct your reader to someone who can give them the information. Don't leave your reader hanging, or hope that they go away. Give the courtesy of a quick response.
This holds true if you invite comments of any kind on your site.
You have to be prepared to accept criticism gracefully, or at least go in with the idea that people are entitled to their opinion.
Likewise, don't ignore those who leave positive comments. If you were face-to-face with someone and they complimented you, would you stand there and just stare blankly at them? Most likely not. You would thank them. Although the commenter may not be looking for acknowledgement, everyone likes to get it. That is just human nature.
People won't forget any negative response they get from you, they will also remember you for extending the courtesy of positive acknowledgement.
Positive feedback can also come back to you “in gold” as well.
A simple polite request for confirmation of information to promote an event plus the request to link (which was initially not thought possible) resulted in a prominent and important link from another well-known site. In addition, that Webmaster offered his personal assistance in website building. It doesn't get much better than that.
Elizabeth Orr savors and shares all things rhubarb – including growing and harvesting tips, recipes, rhubarb crafts and even rhubarb festivals – at Savor-the-Rhubarb.com.
