Contact

Most college students are involved in digital and social media. Social media websites can range from Twitter to Wordpress. It is essential to provide a form of contact between the creator and the user. Contact information should be included on every page of a website because it suggests credibility and accountability. There is a certain amount of contact information that should be included. However, there are different types of contact information that an individual should include.

Credibility

Contact pages allow websites and other forms of social media to appear credible. Contact information provides the audience with an idea of who is responsible for the content. For instance, if a college student created a website on Wordpress including his/her photography portfolio, it would be important to provide a contact page in case a business wanted to offer a job. When a website includes contact information, the website appears more reliable. In Writing for Digital Media, Carrol suggests ways for a website to appear more credible. Carrol states providing “full contact information and a way to get to it on every page” is essential towards suggesting credibility. [1] People do not want to search for a form of contact; contact information should be easy to obtain.

Accountability

Contact pages form a connection between the creator and the content. The content provided on the social media website holds the creator accountable. An authority is somewhat created when contact information is included. When the audience has questions, they can contact the individual responsible for the website. Web Design Enterprise states, "This is a very important page as it tells your customer about who you are and why they should buy your products, services and/or trust your organization". [2] The book, Accountability Through Public Opinion, provides an overall statement about accountability: "Access to information, voice, and a communication infrastructure therefore seem to be among the main prerequisites for effective accountability" .[3]

Types of Contact

Full contact information includes a full name and email address. Sometimes individuals can provide a business phone number or business address, however it is not necessary. Personal phone numbers and home addresses should not be included in the contact information because it creates a lack of privacy. Other types of contact information to include are

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Linked in
• Visual CV
• Wordpress

References

1. Carroll, Brian. (2010). "Writing for Digital Media". New York: Routledge. Retrieved 29 Oct. 2012.
2. Web Design Enterprise. (2012). Most Important Pages to Include on your Website. Miami, FL: Web Design Enterprise, Miami Web Design. Retrieved 7 Nov. 2012.
3. Ed. Obdugemi, Sina & Lee, Taeku. (2011). "Accountability Through Public Opinion". Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved 12 Nov. 2012.