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WPForms Review (and a WPForms Discount)

December 1, 2018 by Brent Peterson

WPForms is branded as the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin in the market.

While that may be the case, WPForms (affiliate link) can do a lot more for your online lead generation strategy than a simple form for your website contact page.

(There is a lite version of the WP Forms plugin that allows you to set up a standard contact form on your site for free.)

WPForms Review

The full-featured WP Forms plugin is classified as a premium WordPress plugin and as such, it is not free.

To unlock the advanced lead generation features though, WP Forms plugin will likely cost you between $39 and $299 per year.

You can compare the features by pricing model via the WPForms website, and you may also determine the Pro level at $199/year is the smart strategic investment based on your online goals.

When visiting the WPForms website for the first time (or after clearing your browser cache), you are likely to see a WPForms discount for 50% off using coupon code (e.g. SAVE50) at the top of the page.

The Pro level is what is used and recommend by Graceful Resources. Six notable benefits of WPForms are noted below for your quick reference in this WPForms review.

wp-forms-logo

WPForms Review: 5 Praiseworthy Benefits

1. Form Templates (Pro Level)

WPForms includes a lot of standard forms out of the box, so to speak.

In addition to a simple contact form, there are templates for:

  • Donation Form
  • Billing/Order Form
  • Suggestion Form
  • Request a Quote Form
  • Newsletter Form
  • Blank Form

The new WPForms Templates Pack Addon also unlocks 100 new pre-built form templates, such as:

  • Girl Scout Cookie Order Form
  • Meeting Room Registration Form
  • Party Invitation RSVP Form
  • Conference Registration Form
  • Support Ticket Form

2. Conditional Logic (All Levels)

Conditional logic lets you hide or show fields in your form based on other user entries.

WPForms lacks the graceful conditional logic flow of Typeform (see 8 Typeform Examples and a Discount), but conditional logic comes in handy especially on longer surveys or forms.

3. Drag & Drop Form Builder (All Levels)

Like Typeform, WPForms lets you easily drag and drop entries into and out of your form.

All forms are then mobile responsive meaning the forms adjust automatically to the size of the user’s screen.

If this is the first time you are designing forms for your own WordPress site, the drag & drop feature is a welcome start to the entire form setup process.

4. Stripe Integration (Pro Level)

WPForm’s direct integration with Stripe lets you process individual credit card transactions (or recurring payments) directly through your website form.

A SSL Certificate is required on your site to process credit card, but as a best practice today, your entire site should be SSL encrypted.

Stripe integration is not difficult to set up and once in place, WPForms offers an efficient way to process customer credit card orders on your website.

5. Multiple Addons (Varies by Level)

WPForms is a WordPress plugin that has available plugin addons to enhance the capabilities of the software.

If you are on the Pro plan, all the addons are available at no additional cost.

Here are some available addons:

  • Direct MailChimp, AWeber, and GetResponse Addons (unfortunately there is not a ConvertKit addon at this time – see ConvertKit Discount: Free Month or More (Plus 8 Benefits) if you would like to try out ConvertKit – the email service used and recommended by Graceful Resources).
  • Zapier Addon (Zapier does allow you to create a WPForms and ConvertKit connection).
  • Blog Post Submissions Addon (creates a pending draft of blog post without the need to set up a guest author on your WordPress site).
  • Form Abandonment Addon (captures partial entries from your forms).
  • Signature Addon (lets users sign forms with their mouse or a touchscreen).
  • Survey Plugin (easily creates surveys and polls within WPForms)

6. Great Customer Service

WPForms is run by the same company that runs OptinMonster (see OptinMonster Review: 10 Reasons to Give OptinMonster a Try).

The company provides great video tutorials and when you get stuck, you can submit a support ticket.

Response time – in my experience – is same day (including weekends) and always helpful.

WPForms Review – In Summary

WPForms isn’t the only WordPress form creator on the market.

But it is arguably the most user-friendly and flexible.

If your business goal is to process online leads and transactions through your website, WPForms is worth a close look (you can try it out risk-free for 14 days).

An investment of $199/year (and potentially less with a new customer WPForms discount) will hopefully lead to a clear return on investment for you.

You will quickly discover you can do a lot more with WordPress forms than a simple contact form.

Other Resources for Your Lead Generation

  1. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  2. Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion about email sign up incentives and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)
  3. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  4. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

Filed Under: Technology Advice, Technology Resources, Uncategorized Tagged With: Creative Lead Generation, Lead Generation Form, Online Lead Generation, Optinmonster, wordpress forms, wpforms

ConvertKit Black Friday Deal – Plus Other Cyber Monday Sales

November 23, 2018 by Brent Peterson

Special deals on website resources (like a ConvertKit Discount) vary throughout the year and extra savings on technology – especially around Thanksgiving – allow you to save money while expanding your business reach online throughout the year. 

So included for your quick use below is a ConvertKit Black Friday / ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal available through Tuesday 11/27 (along with a ConvertKit 30 Day Free Trial – available for use year-round) plus current discounts on five other website resources used and recommended by this website.

ConvertKit Black Friday / ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal

Are you just starting out (or starting over) with your email marketing?

This year the ConvertKit Black Friday deal (also recognized as a ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal) is a Starter Kit valued at $1400 on sale for $289.

The ConvertKit Starter Kit includes:

  1. 12 months of ConvertKit for up to 1000 subscribers
  2. Creator Pass Pro – a suite of education and resources for creators
  3. 90 day trial of the Teachable course platform
  4. Six plug-and-play visual automation templates that can be copied directly into a ConvertKit account
  5. Ebook of Authority: A step-by-step guide to self publishing written by Nathan Barry, CEO and Founder of ConvertKit
  6. I Am A Blogger coffee table book (a physical copy) – link to book

This is the first time ConvertKit has offered a promotion like this, and it is worth checking out if you are seeking a more comprehensive starter kit for your online business.

ConvertKit Black Friday Deal (expired 11/27/18)

ConvertKit 30 Day Trial

As you already know, ConvertKit is a feature-rich (and easy-to-learn) email marketing service that is used by this website and it is recommended for any online entrepreneur – even if you are not a blogger.

It’s definitely worth trying out for free.

You can take advantage of a ConvertKit 30 Day Trial for up to 1000 subscribers via this ConvertKit link:

ConvertKit 30 Day Trial

If you already have over 1000 subscribers (or you know ConvertKit is right for you), you can lock in two months of ConvertKit for free today by selecting the Pricing tab on the ConvertKit website and then click on the Annual Billing button:

Then click TRY IT FOR FREE in the ConvertKit column that fits your subscriber list size.

If you are not sure yet whether ConvertKit is right for you, no worries. Here’s a ConvertKit Review for your quick reference.

5 Other Discounts on Website Resources

Good website resources are not free, but thankfully the cost to get started is nominal.

Special offers from these companies make the resources even more attractive.

  1. WP Engine

    1. Resource Summary:  WP Engine is the largest fully managed WordPress (WP) platform provider in the world. Tech support is available 24×7 and all staff are subject matter experts in WordPress installations.
    2. Resource Review:  Why I Switched from Bluehost to GoDaddy to WP Engine
    3. Promotion: Get 5 months free with WP Engine’s Cyber Weekend Special
    4. Promotional Link: WP Engine Discount
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for an annual subscription with the WP Engine discount link to get the extra savings when you pre-pay for the first year!
  2. StudioPress

    1. Resource Summary: The award-winning Genesis Framework for WordPress (WP) powers the professionally designed StudioPress WP child themes. Genesis is fully customizable with proven security and performance, and it is now available as a packed WordPress hosted solution.
    2. Resource Review:  10 Reasons StudioPress Offers the Best WordPress Themes
    3. Promotion:  20% of  all themes
    4. Sponsorship Link: StudioPress Themes
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for a StudioPress Pro Plus Pack with the StudioPress link to lock in access to all current and future themes for life!
  3. OptinMonster

    1. Resource Summary: OptinMonster is a premium lead generation software that seamlessly integrates email opt-in forms into your website so that you can grow your email marketing list with site visitors.
    2. Resource Review:  10 Reasons OptinMonster is the Best Lead Generation Software
    3. Promotion:  35% off entire OptinMonster purchase
    4. Promotional Link: OptinMonster Discount
    5. Pro Tip:  Sign up for the OptinMonster Pro Plan with the OptinMonster discount link to lock in bigger savings on the feature-rich pro license – includes exit-intent technology.
  4. WPForms

    1. Resource Summary: WPForms is a premium form creator plugin for WordPress and it is branded as the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin in the market. But it can do a lot more than contact forms.
    2. Resource Review:  WP Forms Review (and a WPForms Discount)
    3. Promotion:  60% off new plans
    4. Promotional Link: WPForms Discount (wait 5 seconds for promo to appear at top of pricing page)
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for the WPForms Pro Plan with the WPForms discount link to lock in bigger savings on the feature-rich pro license – includes integration with PayPal and Stripe to accept online payments without your forms.
  5. Typeform

    1. Resource Summary: Typeform is a professional online form design tool that allows you to connect with page visitors via engaging and conversational online forms, surveys, quizzes, and landing pages.
    2. Resource Review:  8 Typeform Examples and a Typeform Discount
    3. Promotion:  New customers get 10% off Typeform subscriptions.
    4. Promotional Link: Typeform Discount
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for the Typeform annual pro plan via the Typeform discount link to lock in 10% off plus two months for free.

*

Full Transparency about Recommended Website and Email Resources

Promotional links on this page are sponsorship (affiliate) links. There is no extra cost to you.  If you start using any of these website resources, you are encouraged to become affiliates for them as well. You’ll want to spread the word too. These website resources are that good, and I would use and recommend them even if there were no affiliate programs.

Thanks!

Brent

Filed Under: Technology Resources, Uncategorized Tagged With: convertkit, convertkit 30 day trial, convertkit black friday, convertkit cyber monday, convertkit discount, Convertkit Free Trial, email marketing

ConvertKit Free Trial and Free Product Creation Masterclass

April 12, 2017 by Brent Peterson Leave a Comment

ConvertKit is a professional email marketing service with some notable benefits in a crowded marketplace (here’s why I switched from AWeber, Constant Contact, GetResponse, and MailChimp to ConvertKit).

If you are just starting out as an online entrepreneur or you are changing direction with your web toolkit and business products, ConvertKit is a great foundation for email marketing.

ConvertKit is actually easier to use than AWeber, Constant Contact, GetResponse or MailChimp.

It’s also more powerful for your business because it allows you to create unique tags for your email list.

ConvertKit Free Trial

At any time, you can test out a ConvertKit 30-day free trial via this promotional link:

ConvertKit Free Trial

The ConvertKit free trial is good for one month free of charge for up to 1000 subscribers.

After thirty days, the cost is $29/month (until you exceed 1000 subscribers).

If you already have over 1000 subscribers (or you know ConvertKit is right for you), you can lock in two months of ConvertKit for free today by selecting the Pricing tab on the ConvertKit website and then click on the Annual Billing button:

Then click TRY IT FOR FREE in the ConvertKit column that fits your subscriber list size.

ConvertKit Free Trial and Free Product Creation Masterclass

If you are seeking guidance on how to create a new product, ConvertKit again offered a free product creation masterclass starting on January 15, 2018.

Details from ConvertKit on the free product masterclass are provided below.

As an extra bonus, if you are new to ConvertKit, you also qualify for the ConvertKit Free Trial for one month.

What is the Product Creation Masterclass?

  • A four-week long project walking you through every step it takes to create a successful product from scratch.
  • Twenty daily lessons sent straight to your inbox, Monday through Friday running April 24th through May 19th.
  • Weekly live trainings led by the ConvertKit team walking through the lessons and answering questions.
  • Four expert interviews from Melyssa Griffin, Jeff Goins, Chris Guillebeau, and Maya Elious where they share their experience in building online products.
  • Free trials to Samcart, Thinkific, Meet Edgar, and Teachable for all registrants, including a 30 day free trial of ConvertKit for new customers.

WebsiteAssessment

I hope these free resources are of value to you.

If so, here is what you need to do:

  1. Sign up for the free ConvertKit trial.
  2. Schedule time on your calendar starting January 15, 2018.
  3. Grab a good cup of coffee (or two) each day.
  4. Take great notes and make your first (or next) product happen!

Full Transparency

Graceful Resources has an affiliate relationship with ConvertKit so if you decide to invest in ConvertKit via any promotional link on this site, I am eligible for a nominal commission from the good folks in Idaho at ConvertKit if you decide to pay for the service. There is no extra cost to you.

If you start using ConvertKit, you are encouraged to set up an affiliate relationship with them as well.  You’ll want to spread the word too.  The software is that good, and I would use and recommend ConvertKit even if there was no affiliate program.

Filed Under: Project Management Resource, Technology Resources, Uncategorized Tagged With: blogging, converkit, convertkit, Convertkit Free Trial, Email, email marketing, free product creation masterclass, Online Products, Product Creation

Rainmaker Platform Review: Is Rainmaker Right for You?

March 28, 2017 by Brent Peterson

The Rainmaker Platform is a complete online turn-key solution from Rainmaker Digital (formerly Copyblogger Media) for entrepreneurs who are seeking a WordPress-based platform with a lot of out-of-the-box functionality for online commerce – such as a landing page designer, course builder, membership area, and checkout workflow.

Summer 2017 Update: The Rainmaker Platform software application is currently closed for new customers.

Is Rainmaker Right for You?

As is the case for any software application, it depends on your online business goals and preferences.

Think of the Rainmaker Platform like owning a fully-furnished vacation home or condo that includes all maintenance, security and cleaning services. It’s not inexpensive real estate, but it does offer peace of mind so that you can focus on a great vacation experience for you and your guests.

Your property, whether we are talking about real estate or a website, can also grow significantly in value over time if operated professionally.

VacationRental

Rainmaker Platform Review

If the thought of patching together multiple pieces of technology (aka WordPress plugins) – and then testing security patches for those plugins on a regular basis – would keep you up at night, Rainmaker is worth trying out for free.

Consider what is included with Rainmaker (and this isn’t everything):

  1. A library of professional StudioPress themes to use.
  2. Top-notch secure hosting for your managed WordPress website.
  3. SSL certification for secure customer navigation and transactions on your site.
  4. Unique WordPress interface that is relatively easy to navigate and operate (especially for entrepreneurs who have not used the native WordPress dashboard).
  5.  All technical maintenance for WordPress updates and built-in plugins.
  6.  Integrated Learning Management System (LMS) for online courses.
  7. Members-only features for your customers (e.g. access to digital downloads and courses).
  8. Landing Page creator (here’s why landing pages are important).
  9. Fully integrated email marketing (works seamlessly with AWeber, Constant Contact, ConvertKit (what I use and recommend – here’s why), MailChimp, and Infusionsoft. Rainmaker also now has its own integrated mail service called RainMail that is free for Rainmaker customers for up to 999 unique emails on your mailing list.)
  10. An extensive library of marketing and how-to resources to build your platform.
  11. Exclusive access to an online community of other Rainmaker users. This is a great forum to ask questions.
  12. Friendly and helpful customer support if you ever get stuck. Just submit a support ticket from your Rainmaker dashboard.

Customers can give Rainmaker a test drive for 14 days.  After that, the complete professional package is $145 – $165 per month (subject to change). If you add up all the costs of running a website (e.g. software, WordPress hosting, email marketing, landing pages), it can actually be a significants savings for your small business.

728x90-2_Rainmaker

If you are planning to offer online courses, then you can really come out ahead financially because Rainmaker has that covered too with its own integrated Learning Management System (LMS).

Most reputable LMS software services like Teachable.com, Thinkific.com and NewKajabi.com will run you at least $100/month for their professional plans. With Rainmaker, your customers never have to leave your site for a consistent and integrated experience and it is included in your account.

10 Benefits of the Rainmaker Platform

  1. Secure website hosting and performance.
  2. Design tools to create and modify a WordPress website that looks equally great on computer screens and mobile devices.
  3. Content creation tools for text, audio, video, and graphical messages.
  4. Search engine optimization recommendations (through the proprietary Scribe Content software – now called Content Optimizer). This feature is big (I once paid $47/month just for this SEO software).
  5. Lead generation tools via email integration and membership pages.
  6. Easy to access metrics about your site’s business performance.
  7. Extensive library of marketing webinars to build your business.
  8. SSL Certificate included for secure payment transactions with customers (another cost saving with Rainmaker).
  9. Integrated Learning Management System (LMS) to host your own online courses.
  10. Landing page creator for sales pages, opt-ins, and call to action opportunities. You can even set your Rainmaker site to display your own custom landing page while your site is being developed or under maintenance.

RainmakerPlatform

Lesson Learned

This site called Graceful Resources runs on the Rainmaker Platform and is the fifth WordPress site I’ve designed for my own online business. I now professionally design and integrate sites for clients. Over the past nine years, I’ve learned a lot about setting up and maintaining business and community websites (and always learning something new every week!)

It’s a rewarding experience to do-it-yourself, but it is also brutally time-consuming. The online rules of engagement continue to change and you are forced to learn something new technically-speaking almost every week. It can be very hard work and frustrating.

The Rainmaker Platform launched publicly in 2014, and I now highly recommend it for clients and prefer to use Rainmaker (over native WordPress) when setting up their sites for long-term growth and impact.  When I hand over the keys to clients on a new site, Rainmaker makes the transition much easier because the technology side of things isn’t as cumbersome as it is with a self-hosted WordPress site.

Discover More About Our Project Work

Is the Rainmaker Platform Right for You?

Rainmaker was created by Rainmaker Digital (the same team behind the industry-recognized StudioPress Genesis framework and child themes, and the Authority content marketing training).

There is still a lot to be learned about blogging, content creation, product development and online marketing. Thankfully, Rainmaker allows customers to focus more on that business learning curve, and not on the technical one.

Give Rainmaker a Try

If you are the fence about Rainmaker, I encourage you to give it a try for two weeks for free so that you can make an informed decision.

This site runs on Rainmaker so I am a customer too. I trust it for my long-term growth and I think you will too.

728x90-1_Rainmaker

Savings Opportunity

If you prepay for a year of Rainmaker (click here to get started), you receive almost two months free of charge per year.

Full Transparency

Graceful Resources has an affiliate relationship with Rainmaker so if you decide to invest in Rainmaker via this link (or any of the Rainmaker links in this post), your use of this affiliate link helps support the growth of Graceful Resources. There is no extra cost to you.

If you start using Rainmaker, you are encouraged to set up an affiliate relationship with them as well.  You’ll want to spread the word too.  The software is that good, and I would use and recommend Rainmaker even if there was no affiliate program. But simply one referral per month will cover your software cost of this powerful platform.

Do you have other questions about Rainmaker?

Please let me know via response to the free Graceful Resources weekly email or my contact form.  I am here to help.

If you end up building your website through Rainmaker via this affiliate link, please drop me a note.  I am happy to take a look at your new site and to offer you free feedback to help grow your online business operation.

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

Filed Under: Technology Advice, Technology Resources, Uncategorized Tagged With: blogging, Complete Online, landing pages, Managed Wordpress, Offer Online Courses, Online Business, Rainmaker, Rainmaker Digital, Rainmaker Platform, Rainmaker Platform Review, Rainmaker review, Self Hosting Wordpress, Wordpress, Wordpress Hosting

What is Exit Intent? And 3 Benefits of Exit Intent Opt-In Pop-Ups

February 18, 2017 by Brent Peterson

Exit Intent is one of those new online marketing terms like Autoresponders (which was defined in this earlier post). It refers to a popular online lead generation strategy that you would recognize in use (but perhaps not by name) as you surf the web.

As a professional project manager specializing in web design and online lead generation strategies for clients, I try to stay up to date on all the latest marketing lingo so that I can explain concepts in easy to understand terms.

Admittedly, I test out my understanding and explanation on my family first. If the eyes roll, I keep working on it!

Once the concept is ready for introduction to a client, we determine if it makes sense strategically to implement it as part of the project schedule.

WhatisExitIntent

What is Exit Intent?

Technically speaking, Exit Intent is the name for the “exiting” mouse movement of a website visitor that triggers a pop-up message on the screen.

Stated another way, as your cursor moves to leave the active browser tab, a message pops ups to grab your attention before you leave.

You can manually trigger an exit intent pop up on this site via this link and you should see the following message:

ExitIntentExample2017

Is Exit Intent kind of annoying for site visitors? Well, yes.

Is Exit Intent kind of effective? Well, yes.

3 Benefits of Exit Intent Opt-In Pop-Ups

1. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Less Intrusive than Time-Based Pop-Ups

You are probably very familiar with time-based pop-ups on the center of website screens.

Some appear the moment you arrive on a website before you have a chance to read anything. Others appear after a set number of seconds or as you scroll down the page a set percentage.

I don’t know about you, but I find time-based pop-ups very disruptive and I am quick to exit them out (and not opt-in to the form).

2. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are an Online Elevator Pitch

When you use an exit-intent pop-up, you are automating your elevator pitch so that site visitors know what you are about before they leave.

Is there a chance someone is not interested in your content or business? Absolutely.

But if you are able to solve a problem someone is experiencing, you’ll want to catch the site visitor before they leave. Often, your value proposition is a lot clearer in an exit intent message than on a random web page.

3. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Somewhat Effective

You won’t realize great opt-in rates on an exit intent pop-up because well… people are trying to leave.

Will get some leads on your email list that you would have otherwise missed? Absolutely.

And that lead could become a customer for years to come.

Exit Intent pop-ups are often worth the brief interruption.

My Software Tool for Exit Intent

I use OptinMonster for exit intent (and all my pop-up variations – including the footer bar) on this website. I highly recommend this cloud-based software and you can discover my lessons learned with OptinMonster in this online review.

Once someone opts-in to your campaign via OptinMonster, the software is smart enough to not generate a pop-up again for that user!

I plan to incorporate OptinMonster setup, design, and integration in at least one of my upcoming guided do-it-yourself projects using Teamwork software from Ireland.

You can catch announcements about these interactive project offerings via my email mailing list (click here to not miss out).

Exit Intent is worth adding to your toolkit and testing as a lead generation tool.

Hope this blog post helps.

I’m here to help you succeed, one project step at a time.

Brent

Special Bonus: All subscribers to my mailing list can add their own lead magnet web addresses at any time to my upcoming lead magnet examples listing here on the Graceful Resources website. So free publicity for their respective websites!

Filed Under: Marketing Advice, Technology Advice, Technology Resources, Uncategorized Tagged With: autoresponders, blogging, email marketing, exit intent, lead generation, lead magnet ideas, Optinmonster, What Is Exit Intent

How to Find a Good Web Designer

October 3, 2016 by Brent Peterson

My website journey over the past eight years has admittedly been an adventure with the web designers I’ve hired, but I wouldn’t be where I am today with Graceful Resources without some… let’s say “less than trustworthy” people along the way.

I’m sure you can relate as well in any career field (not just web design). It’s what we do we with the experience that defines our long-term success in service to others.

When we run into obstacles (and we all do) we essentially have one of two choices:

  1. We become more bitter and give up, or
  2. We become a guide for others.

I have chosen the latter through Graceful Resources and I hope you do as well in your line of work (and you become comfortable with the criteria that follows for trustworthy professionals).

How_to_Find_Good_Web_Designer

My Web Designer History

This site I am sharing with you today is actually the fifth WordPress site for my business that I’ve designed.  The other four have now been retired.  Over the years, here are some of my experiences:

  1. A web designer/developer charged me $750 initially and then went AWOL when I realized he didn’t know what he was doing.
  2. An SEO firm (recommended by a friend and local CEO) charged me $1000/month for four months to “optimize my site for search engines”. In the end, they got my first site blacklisted by Google because they tried to game Google’s algorithm by stuffing my site metadata with keywords.  They then charged me $2000 to fix the website. In short, they were web con artists.
  3. A project manager in California charged me $3000 and then outsourced my web project to someone else in Brazil. The problem wasn’t that he partnered with someone else to help with the technical side of things. The problem was that he failed to keep me updated on the project.

I also hear “my IT guy disappeared” stories all the time from hard working, honorable people just like you.

How to Find a Good Web Designer

There isn’t some high tech answer to finding a good web designer.

In the end, we are talking about finding good trustworthy professionals, and I will defer to NY Times best-selling author Dr. Henry Cloud for his guidance on this one.

In his new book The Power of the Other: The Startling Effects Other People Have on You, from the Boardroom to the Bedroom and Beyond – and What do Do About It, the author outlines the following five criteria to assess if you can trust a person in your life.

When applied to web designers, I wish I had these five criteria in my back pocket years ago. But today, I hope my future clients (whether for direct web projects or my upcoming online courses) would judge me by this same list.

  1. Trust Someone Only if You’re Sure That Person Understands What’s Important to You
  2. Make Sure the Person Has Your Best Interests at Heart
  3. Ask Yourself if the Person is Reliable Before You Turn to Him or Her for Help
  4. Assess the Person’s Character
  5. Consider the Past Experiences You’ve Shared with the Person

I recognize the fifth criteria from Dr. Cloud may be the most difficult to assess with someone you haven’t worked with yet, but I encourage you to consider all initial interactions over email, phone, blog, social media, etc.

In the end, business relationships are about trust.

For your own business, I encourage you to publish on your website the following three critical pages to build trust with your site visitors (you can click on each for my example):

  1. About Page
  2. Testimonials Page 
  3. Contact Page

And to review the same content on the website of your future web designer or another business partner critical to your success in today’s economy.

Hope this helps,
Brent

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback via my contact form or in direct response to my free Graceful Journal email mailing list.

As a certified project management professional (PMP) specializing in web design and lead generation strategies, I’m here to take away the pain of figuring out how to seamlessly integrate web and email software resources to grow businesses online.

One project step at at time.

Filed Under: Technology Advice, Technology Resources, Uncategorized

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