Placement
Where you put your contact page link on the root page directly influences the paths your customers take. That “about us page” is often a poor choice for prime real estate at the top of your page. The majority of first time visitors do not care about you. It's what you can do for them that counts. Put your ego and corporate history aside and showcase your product or service instead.
Tungle executes on this maxim and places the “about us” and “contact us” links are at the bottom of the homepage. Many would call this heresy but there is a valid reason for this design decision. The links that are prominent at the top tell us about their product and company. Both are made accessible to the average person. Each page is purposeful and (aside from the “Blog” page) make it easy to “sign up” for their beta and view a “flash demo” explaining the concepts and showing the product in action. These options are not forced, just present, allowing the viewer to learn about Tungle and take action when they are ready.
A One Stop Contact Page
Click the “contact us” link at the bottom. You are rewarded with a real contact page. Use snail mail? No problem. Need directions so you can get there for a job interview, or investors meeting? That's covered too. So are contact points for Customer Care, Company Info, Press & Media, Partnerships and Careers at Tungle. Got a problem with the website just email the webmaster. No surveys or veiled list building schemes here. Just like their product they want to help you get things done and facilitate the process.
The Tungle website is far from perfect. It does take a detour from the average poorly thought out dot com business site. It answers questions and demonstrates a corporate mindset. Like Tungle it cuts through the clutter typically associated with businesses as usual.
Final Thoughts
Startups are notorious for hiding their contact info making journalists covering the sector work much harder than they should to make contact. These are launched companies who want publicity but fail to act like it. Inform and convert without bogging the user down like so many sites do. Consider implementing similar elements in your website designs.
Many are now talking about the company and their product Tungle. Next Monday I will too. I welcome your comments on this post.
