customers

At some stage in your life, I'm sure as a customer you've become friends with a trader.  Maybe your newsagent, the butcher, a sales assistant at one of your favourite shops.

Think for a moment why you like going to the shop?  You go to the shop, engage in friendly banter and discuss things.  There is an interaction between you and the customer.

Now think about the shops that you go to where the sales assistants always seem to dart out of the way - always have "go away, I'm busy" faces on, and the only interaction is the scripted "Have a nice day" as you are handing over your money.

Most websites are a lot like the second shop I'm talking about.  Shops don't run on autopilot as well as they do when you are out there making your customers feel welcome.  Want a great way to improve sales at your website?  Engage your customers!

Ask questions, get them involved in the products you are selling.  Get opinions, make them feel like it is important that they are there.  Stop treating them like numbers, and more like people, and you're going to win everytime.

How could you engage your customers better?