Getting Your Customers To Your Website

I watch with interest as I see the various - creative - ways that companies find to drive traffic to their websites.

One recent, creative example is TBS. There's an original show on there that I like and in order to find out what's happening on next week's show (a half hour comedy) one must go online to view the preview.

Nice, eh? This concept really works for me as I don't want to go online to get something that should be included in my television viewing experience -- I'd rather either see a bit of a show I like early online or just wait until the regularly scheduled program to see it all. Either way is acceptable.

I do remember one incident trying to get me to the web last year that failed miserably. One program I watch is a mystery/crime drama; I can't remember the plot specifics, but there was a letter that contained clues to the crime or the sub-plot on the show. However, at the end, instead of unveiling the letter on the television show, one had to go on line to view the text. I was annoyed at that. Since I haven't seen anything like that since, I guess I wasn't the only one!

The lesson I took away from all this was that for driving traffic to your website, having extras online is the way to go. Whether your customer is watching you on TV or connecting with you in your store, don't diminish the main experience by making them visit the web to finish their interaction with you. But do give them an extra reason to visit you online - a little bonus.

posted by Caroline Stanley @ 9:33 AM