To get more effectiveness out of a contact form try using a landing page with contact form specifically for that.  For example, on the website where you are listing job openings put a simple form on that page so the applicant can quickly interact with you.  To help promote a specific product of business service build a website with a  whitepaper that can only be downloaded by filling out an online form.

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Try a Landing Page Instead of a Contact Us Form

As Labor Day approaches I can’t help but think about the success of this country.  America is a young country but quickly grew to global leader with guts, sweat, blood, hard knocks and tears.  Our ancestors gave us a great foundation to work off of.  It is our turn to continue to strengthen that foundation.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to own and run Galvin Technologies,  web and software business in Indianapolis.  We would not be successful without the hard work and knowledge of our staff.  Everyone at Galvin has an opportunity to make a direct impact on not only the company but the industry too.  This is type of work that continues to make this country strong.

Thank you!!

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Thank You, American Workers

Well, earlier this week one of the Galvin Technologies employees came back from maternity leave.  We were excited to have her back and decided to have a small gathering in the conference room with cake.  So when we ordered the cake we mentioned we wanted a chocolate cake with “Welcome Back” written on it.  Easy enough requirement, right?  Well, when the cake was picked up it read “Well Come Back” on three separate lines.

This is a perfect example of documenting the requirements first.  If the cake was a website project we would make sure we documented that the cake was chocolate and to read “Well Come Back”.  We would then hand that requirement to the client only for them to inform us that it is to say “Welcome Back”.  We would have made that quick change and the client would sign off.  Total change time = 1 minute.

But in this situation the person who made the cake assumed it was to read “Well Come Back” so they took the production of the cake all the way to delivery only for the client to be disappointed and tell them it is not right.  Total time to fix this mistake = 1.5 hours + cost of the cake.  A much more expensive mistake plus we plan not go back there although the cake tasted great.  Design is crucial so document it.

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A Good Lesson in Defining Website Design Requirements….From a Cake?!?!

Last weekend my wife and I joined some friends and we all took our children to Holiday World for the first time.  All of us agreed that it was the best family amusement park we have been too.  While I was there I was impressed with how the amusement park was run that I enjoyed taking some business lessons from the park.  Here they are:

• Treat everyone one and it will have a positive trickle effect.
• Know your target audience, market to them and service the heck out of them so they keep coming back.
• Create value added benefits and don’t be afraid to market them (Holiday World advertises their free soft drinks and how clean their park is)
• If  you can clearly describe what you are good at then that will be spread to potential customers by others.
• Always make sure your improving as a company.
• Train your employees everyday.
• Everyone wants to be said “hello” to.  A simple “hello” and “thank you” goes a long way.
• Offer enough incentive to bring people to want to buy from you and keep buying from you.
• If your workplace is clean and organized then so is  your business.

Although Galvin Technologies is a web and application development company doesn’t mean that it can’t take business lessons from an amusement park.  The weekend gave our family many memories but it also taught me some valuable business lessons.  I look forward to going back there.

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Business Lessons Learned from My Visit to Holiday World

Then today on the way home from work I was listening to ESPN Radio and they were talking about Strasburg as if he has been playing the game for 10 years and has been the greatest ever.  He pitched one game, did awesome and now for the next game he pitches there are even higher expectations on him than his first game.  I trust he will deliver because Strasburg seems like the type of player who will continue to get better and better.  Tiger knows it, Peyton knows it and Applie knows it – you have to constantly get better because your fans expectations or your clients expectations will always be high.

Athletes know this and businesses know this.  We know that we have to constantly get better as a business and we know our competition is getting better.    But more importantly, our clients have expectations and those expectations are high.  Just like Strasburg we have to go out there everyday and perform better than the day before.  This is part of what makes this “game” so much fun!

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Expectations – Exceed Them

Here are just a few small ways in which your clients will not only remember you, but they will look forward to your next meeting.

1.       Be Present – Be intentional when dealing with clients.  No one wants to feel as though they are an inconvenience.  Give them your full attention by looking them in the eye and focusing on what they are saying.

2.       Be Trustworthy – You need to be seen by your clients as someone they can trust and rely upon both personally and professionally.  Follow through with your commitments and be mindful of the persona you are projecting. 

3.       Be Grateful – Never forget that your client had other options but chose to do business with you.  Let them know that you appreciate their business and that they made the correct decision.

4.       Be Personal – Your client is more than their business; they are also individuals.  Address them by their first name.  Take an interest in their personal lives.  Show them that you are not only interested in their business; you are interested in them.

Never forget that the simplest thing like making eye contact and showing appreciation can make or break your relationship with your clients. 

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Treating People Well (or Flies and Honey, which ever you like better)

All websites with login access have a “Forget Password” link that allows a user to input their username or email address and a new password will be sent to the user.  This is such a simple application to develop but the user experience can go wrong if it is not designed properly.

It is very easy for the user to get stuck or get confused on what their new password is.  I see a lot of applications developed in which the user receives their new password and is sent to a special webpage to enter their new system generated password.  Once they do that they are let in.  But the user will not remember the system generated password so when they logout and log back in at another time they will have to run through the Forget Password scenario over and over.  So to improve this process here are a few simple adjustments you can make to your functional use case and design:

1. User clicks “Forget Password”
2. User inputs their email address or username and clicks submit.
3. The system flags the account that the user has forgotten their password and that the password must be reset and sends the user a very friendly email. In this email will be link, with instructions, for the user to access a web page to reset their password. On this page the user is presented with two text boxes – password the user will like to set and confirm the password. Put a check in there too so that once the confirm password matches the password chosen a green check mark is placed next to the confirm box.
4. Once the user resets their password let the user in, remove the flag that is set in the database .

It’s ideal to guide the user through the website and to ensure the experience is ideal. Try to avoid system generated temporary passwords that the user will have to input into their login. Allow them to choose their own password.

Guide the user!

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Better User Experience on “Forget Password” Processes

In 2006 Galvin Technologies started implementing Salesforce.com into the company.  Since then our company has purchased several licenses spread throughout our employees.  It has become an application that is necessary to the health of the business.  In addition, Galvin Technologies, an Indianapolis Web and Software Development company, does Salesforce.com project development work for clients. Over the past four years I personally have become a Salesforce junkie so I wanted to share with you my 5 favorite things with Salesforce.com.

1. No Software – Salesforce.com runs off this tag line.  Is is a SaaS application and runs in a hosted environment.  We don’t have to install any software or buy any hardware.
2. Workflows and Business Rules- Using Salesforce you can develop business workflows based on various business rules.  For example, one of our custom workflows allows for easy processing of new work orders.  When an opportunity’s stage is set to “SOW Signed” and Contract Signed = “Yes” then a Sales Order Form is automatically generated populated with fields from Salesforce, attaches a copy of the client work order and contract, converts it to PDF and sends it to Accounting and Production for processing.  What use to take 10-15 minutes for someone to do now takes as much time as it does to click a button.
3. AppExchange – Hundreds of apps to browse and implement into your Salesforce account.  A few of our favorites are the ExactTarget Application, FormFactory and TimbaSurveys.
4. Usability – Hands down, Salesforce.com has one of the best usability features I have seen.  It is simple and understands how the user navigates throughout the application.
5. Client Support – Salesforce.com would probably consider Galvin one of it’s smallest clients but the personal support is remarkable.  Every time we submit a ticket to Salesforce.com it is followed up with an email and a phone call.  When the ticket is closed they follow up again with an email and a phone call confirming I am satisfied.

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My 5 Favorite Things with Salesforce.com

In business it is important to get the right people in the organization and build around them.  Form a good team, with good systems and the players (employees) will produce.  The leaders have to be respected and execution has to come from the top down.  Don’t detour from your game plan and know who you are.   Execute efficiently and the company will succeed.

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Business Lessons from My High School

The business and economic leaders of Indiana have done a very good job of leading the state in the right direction.  Agricultural, Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Logistics, Sports, Associations and Technology are well represented in Indiana.  The leaders know the strengths of the land, advantages of the Midwestern location and the values and ethics of Hoosiers and thus built a strong state headed in the right direction.  There are lots of good people leading the state of Indiana and as the next election nears it is very important for Hoosier business leaders to elect a candidate that  continues to support businesses and employees in Indiana.  Indiana is headed in the right direction and let’s not forget that.

I also look back and I am thrilled with the impact Galvin Technologies has been able to contribute to Indiana.  In just the past year we have been able to work on the following Indiana and Indianapolis projects that help improve Indianapolis and Indiana:

• Mitch for Governor
• Mayor Greg Ballard
• Indianapolis Economic Development, Inc.
• International School of Indiana
• Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
• Indiana State Republican Party
• Indiana Secretary of State – Rethinking Redistricting
• Indianapolis Zoo – MyCarbonPledge.com

Indiana is a darn good state of have a business.

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Indiana is a Darn Good State to Have a Business