The Importance of Website Feedback

Published On February 5, 2008
16 Comments Leave a Comment

The Importance of Website Feedback

While building a website or a blog, one always considers using the best design, layout and content. But today, instead of discussing these aspects of web development, I’ll be sharing the importance of website feedback which can act like steroids for your website or it can also be used as user-generated content. For most websites, a feedback form seems to be hidden away somewhere on the last page of a developer’s list of site requirements. Forcing visitors to navigate their way through many pages just to locate that feedback form which results in frustration and reduces interest.

Feedback from your website can also act as free and original content for which you do not have to pay anyone. Search engines like Google love unique content. If you miss the opportunity for user feedback, it’s a missed opportunity for you to rank high in the eyes of search engine spiders. You can benefit by enabling most user feedback to be out on the front of your website, e.g. comments, reviews, opinions etc. You can convert feedback into a promotion device or funnel it out into site enhancements.

– Make your feedback form visible and easily accessible. Place the link for your contact page in your global navigation area so that it appears on every page.

– Keep your feedback form short and simple so that visitors do not mind submitting it. Do not make registration necessary for filling up the feedback form and be clear about what you intend to do with the feedback results.

– Invite product reviews, guest blog writers, video/audio submissions, paid reviews and snapshots. Let your visitors edit their own reviews. Link back to their websites if necessary.

Finally, show that you want their feedback by creating opportunities for them to do so. You will be surprised at how many times the comments from users will point to a problem or bug that you could never have noticed about.

16 replies on “The Importance of Website Feedback”

Judy Reply

Hello,
I just wanted to pass along a wonderful and encouraging website.
God Bless

Judy
Father’s Love Letter
An Intimate Message From God To You.

Listen To FLL While You Read Print Father’s Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Feedback Metrics Reply

Hi Jai, I completely agree with you. Most websites do not use feedback (if they collect any) for user generated content and/or further website development/improvement.

chada Reply

What about a guestbook like Chat Box? I put one on my Guestbook page and it really play an important role in getting feedbacks from my readers . Leave a question in the end of articles is another useful way to receive feedbacks.

Daniel Reply

Yea Amikeco .I use (not really ..just have it ) MS outlook .And everytime i think i click on a contact page link ..It opens the program.How irritating is that huh ?

RandomThinker Reply

I agree when you mentioned about show readers that you want feedback. I think a great way to do that is to leave your articles with a question…or at least write in such as way as to get a reaction from your readers.

Amikeco Reply

Daniel is right. It’s really awful, when you click a link — and istead of usual behaviour (openning a page) it starts loading your mail program! (I use TheBat, but all of them need some time to load).

Daniel Reply

giving your e-mail addrs givesthe visitors even more trouble. Instead having a small contact for m(even on the home page) ,something like plugoo ,Can really help your blog in getting good feedback! 🙂

Cosmin Reply

I’ve seen “feedback form” and I’ve automatically thought of a contact form that usually emails the feedback. So you suggest using a page with comments enabled for feedback?

Amikeco Reply

Reading the article I blushed remembering my sites other than my blog. Started before the SEO-wars the sites really need some “user generated content”, the term we hear about so much that some of us ignore its meaning…

Thank you for the impulse! 🙂

Jai Reply

@Cosmin: In the above article, my aim was to make poeple understand how they can get site visitors to create content in the form of feedback. Just including an email address will not serve the purpose.

Cosmin Reply

Don’t you think that it is easier for people to contact you if you include you email address somewhere visible in the sidebar?

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