Tips for Economic Development Websites

Here is some general business Web advice that is also applicable to economic development. As they say, read and heed:

Ten Things to Do to Lose Online Customers

10. Shower consumers' screens with as many pop-ups and banners as you can. As consumers surf the Web, make sure you are in their face as much as possible.

9. Invade consumers' privacy. Collect as much personal information about them as possible. Even if the information has no relevancy to the product or service they are about to purchase. For example, if you are pitching the latest weight loss product make sure you collect consumers' Social Security numbers.

8. Don't worry about sending ads that feature products and services that are of specific interest to the consumer. Sooner or later one will grab his or her attention.

7. Play hard to get. Make it tricky to respond to your ad. And when users do register on your website, make them spend a lot of time providing you with more information than necessary.

6. Breaking up is hard to do. Make sure you have the latest sypware so that it is difficult to unsubscribe or exit from your website.

5. Ignore their preferences for hearing from you. You decide how you will communicate with them and when. Dinnertime is perfect for a telephone sales pitch.

4. Challenge them to locate your online privacy policy. Who reads it anyway?

3. If they have a problem with your product or service, that's too bad. Don't tie up your phone lines and customer reps with disappointed customers.

2. Make as much money from your customer information as possible. Share customer data with anyone who wants it. But be careful about how you describe your sharing practices in your privacy policy. The FTC is a bit sensitive about companies that clearly state in their privacy policy that they don't share when they really do.

And, the Number One way to lose a customer:

1. Customers don't have a right to privacy. If they complain, tell them to get over it!

More here.