Contact Page

[shannmg1]

I'm currently designing a new website for my wife, who just started her own wedding/engagement photography business. I'm trying to build it as SEO friendly as possible, but she brought up an idea that she likes that I've never tried before. Typically on all the websites I've ever built, I've had a dedicated contact page that has the typical contact form. Because that contact form on a wedding photographers website is almost as important as selling a product on an e-commerce site, she brought up the possibility of putting the contact form in the footer site-wide (minus maybe the homepage) rather than having a dedicated contact page. And in the navigation, where you have links such as "Home", "Portfolio", "About", "Prices", "Contact", etc. the "Contact" navigation item would transfer the user to the bottom of the page they are on rather than a new page.

Any thoughts on which way would be better for a case like this, and any positives/negatives for doing it each way? One thought I had is that if it's in the footer rather than it's own page, it would lose it's search-ability as it's technically duplicate content on each page. But then again, that's what a footer is.

Thanks,

Mickey

[gazzerman1]

How about doing it the same way online help/chat boxes come up.

So in the bottom right hand corner it opens up after say x page views or x seconds. Says "catchy message" just pop a few details in here and I will be right back with you.

This kind of interaction and prompt is very effective.

If they choose not to respond, then they can minimize it and are now aware of where and how easy it is to contact you.

[EGOL]

These are suggestions only because everyone has a different style of doing business.  These suggestions are aggressive.

If you want the client to call you on the phone, the phone number is your "call to action".  So, place it on the website where EVERYONE will see it.

The header of the site in bold font with "Call us" or "Free consultation" or whatever language you think will elicit calls. Don't underestimate the power of those two or three words that accompany the phone number.  Your goal is to have the client call YOU and call you NOW.  Communicate that you are available and willing to talk.  You like to talk photography and weddings, etc.

Display your phone number in many locations.  Place it in equally bold font in your footer because some people look down there for contact information.

Include the phone number in bold font in article text where you describe your service.  Include it at the bottom of every article that is written for the benefit of the client. Precede it with welcoming words.   Write lots of these articles because people who contemplate important decisions often devour every scrap of information that you reveal about yourself.

Place the phone number it in the captions of your photos because anyone who reads the captions has an interest that has been triggered.

Some people procrastinate making phone calls.  Speak to them if you want to be their photographer.

In a crowded industry like photography some people don't want to call every service provider.  Instead they are browsing to find just two or three to call.   Speak to them if you want to be their photographer.

There will be people who want to email.  Talk to other photographers and see if their clients call or email.  You can include a "contact  us" in your persistent navigation.  When people click to that page they will see your phone number, your email address, your studio address.  You can include a form if you want.  These forms don't work on many websites so people don't trust them as having delivered the mail.  I don't trust them and just grab the email address from the code and compose a message in my email client instead of typing a big message in a tiny little window that often has length limits that are unannounced.

[PatrickDelehanty]

^ Yes, great EGOL!