When you do business online, you have to get a little personal with your customers. There's no way around it.
Being personal is fine with most of us, if we like and trust the person that's moving into our space. But online, being personal is a real challenge and a very sensitive issue for the business owner.
From the very beginning, you'd like to know how to reach your prospects individually. So, you go after a first name, last name, and an email address at the very least.
You want to open a line of communication with your site visitors and that requires a willingness on their part to give you their name and email. That's being personal and it takes place on their very first visit.
That's asking a lot.
Later, on a subsequent visit, you (the business owner) might like to give your followers a gift, a free download, or an ebook. So, you ask Mr. Customer for his personal information again.
Even later, you approach your customer about buying one of your products. If he consents, you'll probably ask again for his personal information; but this time, you need his full name, credit card number, expiration date, address, city, state, zip code, phone number and who knows what else.
After awhile, it may begin to seem like all you're after is this guy's personal and confidential information.
It goes without saying that you need to keep all customer personal information private, secure, and confidential.
Beyond that, I would suggest you build systems into your business and web site that will allow you to gather all this relevant information once and then never bother the customer with another info request.
Why can't you ask for, and collect, all the pertinent personal information once and then pre-populate boxes on your site with his information stored digitally so that he never has to waste time filling out your request for a name or email again?
There is ample technology available at reasonable cost for you to do this.
I always feel so dumb and "used" when I'm continually asked for the same information over and over again at the same site.
There is no need to do business in this way.
If you're planning, or already have an online business, make sure you do everything you can to make dealing with your business a snap!
You will be seen as a friend, a business expert, and a business owner that really caters to the needs of his customers.
