Importance Of The Contact Page - Tip For Newspaper Owners

If in the past, space constraints in print restrict putting in all your desks editors' names and their phone/fax numbers, web now affords you more freedom.

However, I still find editors who frown on putting your contact page on your website, despite its advantaged. Why this is so beats me but I am sure there are personal reasons to this, oft thinly veiled as professional reservations.

I think with the expansion of media houses in the age of converging technologies and information dissemination through a plethora of media platforms, to give a general line and expect the phone receptionist to direct calls to the appropriate department or person is suicidal - especially since every call is a potential news lead which will undoubtedly find its way to your rival if frustrated in its attempt to reach the correct desk or editor.

Media owners and news managers who continue to ignore this fact do so at the own peril, perhaps even put their jobs at stake - never mind the ill-will that could be generated where public relations is concerned.

Where the contact list is positioned is not nearly as important but as a matter of good public relations, it should be at the top right hand corner, prominently displayed.

If, positioning is a problem, then the footer is just as good provided the contact link can be seen clearly and not just linked to a general form email.
Unless your media has a highly technology conversant clientele, form and hyperlinked emails do not nearly draw as many feedback as you would like it. Besides, the chore of having to log in, checking mails and replying takes plenty of time.

In the next installment, I shall discuss what should go up in the contacts page and show you some well-designed ones.