Web Interactivity

One of the advantages of using a web site as a marketing tool over a paper based brochure is that the users can interact with the site. The interaction may be through a form, which will allow immediate online ordering or booking of products or services , or through an interactive graphical element such as a virtual tour or demonstration.

Forms

Forms are completed by the web user and can be used for a number of reasons;

• Gathering information (similar to an electronic suggestion box)
• Performing surveys
• Ordering products or services

There are 2 tasks involved in the creation of the form;

• Creating the form (and any validation in the form of a client side script)
• Connection to a server side program (or script) for processing of the form

The results of the form can be sent by email, access an online database or any of a number of other possibilities.

The form can be constructed in a number of useful ways, with either free form text entry, or a restricted entry either from a list, or a multiple choice option.

Virtual Visits

This type of interactive element leaves a wide scope for the author. Examples of what can be included here could include;

• Virtual tour of a building
• Scrolling panoramas of landscapes
• Zoom in/out maps
• Fun elements such as online games and quizzes

Whilst this is only a small selection the technologies here vary from the use of DHTML (Dynamic HTML), multimedia (such as Flash or GoLive applications), or the use of embedded Java Applets.