Improving Client Satisfaction Using Frames
Operating a successful website in today’s economy is more important then ever. Your site should not only provide great information, but also provide the user with a site layout and navigation system that makes it easy to find information. Taking advantage of the value of frames can dramatically improve the satisfaction of your web visitors and may be a contributing factor in winning new clients. However, improper use of frames or a non-frames site that reloads itself on every page click could result in your web visitors leaving your site frustrated after clicking a dozen times and being lost layers deep into your site. Frames is defined as the splitting of the browser window into separate sections (or frames) with different content loading in each frame. The best way to explain frames is to compare it to any email client. The left frame contains the folders and inbox, there is a menu action bar and then there is the main frame where the detailed messages are read. Clicking on a folder in the left frame (e.g., sent mail) or an action in the menu bar (e.g., New Memo) updates the contents in the main frame. This is a very efficient design since the screen only reloads the content area. It is not an accident that the most widely used application “email” is built using this concept. If your target audience is anyone with Internet access and your site objectives are to provide an informative site that allows your visitors to find information quickly and easily, you should consider using frames to enhance their experience. There are several benefits of using frames:
- Table of Contents – you can include an expandable table of contents or menu system in a frame to allow your visitors to more quickly and easily hunt for their information without having the entire page reload on each click.
- Corporate Image/Branding – load your images in a top frame and let it stay in eye view throughout their visit.
- Pertinent information always available – certain information that you want your web visitors to always have access to can be loaded once in a frame and stay there until they leave your site. This could include home, contact us, support and other buttons or advertisements.
- Frames are more familiar to business users – since it emulates their email.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction – using frames to minimize reloading improves the user experience.
If frames have such obvious benefits, then why doesn’t everybody use them? Many web designers even chastise frames. They say they are not compatible with all browsers. In today’s net savvy world, virtually all web surfers have the latest versions of the two most popular browsers both of which are completely frames compatible. Another reason that frames are not used is that web designers find it more difficult to maintain and update a frames site, especially if they are using improper site content management tools. Sure, if your menu system has hundreds of links, adding a page and updating your menus with FrontPage, GoLive, HomeSite or other web editor tool, may require making updates in multiple places, but if you are using a dynamic content manager like Xpressite or Aptrix, by adding a page all relevant links and menus can be updated automatically. Business-minded people need websites that address and satisfy their customers’ needs, allowing them to get to the information quickly and easily, using a system that is intuitive and familiar to them. Using a frames website that emulates the familiar email client and an expandable menu will make them feel comfortable and ready to do business with you. Take a look at your site and ask yourself these two questions: Does my site provide a quick and easy way to navigate and find information? Are we reloading everything on every page click? If you answered “Yes” to either of these two questions you should restructure your site to improve customer service using frames.
Kolaco, Inc.
88 East Main Street, Suite 300H
Mendham, NJ 07945
P 973.984.3000
sales@kolaco.com |
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