Innovation Made Simple

Innovation that really drives the performance of your organization and allows you to do more with less requires great ideas. Sure it would be great to hire a consultant that will provide business improvement through proven processes of innovation, but you don't want to shell out a lot of money. So where can you get brilliant innovative ideas for free? Your solution: a web-based suggestion box.

It just might be your brand new employee or customer that has the next great idea to improve your company, website, products, or services. By having a simple and familiar feedback option clearly visible in several locations online, you can regularly capture actionable, real-time ideas and suggestions from your employees, customers, vendors, students, members, volunteers, or prospects.

You can easily use your online survey tool to make a suggestion box available on your website, blog, in your emails, and even on your social media sites. Click to see an example of a web-based suggestion box (and feel free to provide suggestions about how you would like us to improve this blog).

Being open to suggestions via the web will not only give you valuable ideas and suggestions, but it will allow your audience to have a vested interest in you. As long as you implement your web-based suggestion box correctly, you will strengthen your relationships on a regular basis.

Here are some tips on how to do it right and get the most out of your web-based suggestion box:

1. Make your web-based suggestion box simple and visible. Have an easily identifiable link called something like, "Suggestion Box", at the top of pages in several locations online -- your intranet for employees; website for customers, prospects, or vendors; your blog; social media sites, your email newsletter; and anywhere else people can connect with you online. (Note: If you are using Constant Contact's online survey tool, you have a suggestion box ready to go -- use the "Suggestion Box" template in the "Basic Pack.")


2. Prepare for incoming suggestions. Don't make submitters wonder if anyone is actually going to read their suggestions. Dedicate someone to be responsible for this program who is empowered to implement change. That way it's possible to quickly respond to the suggestions with a thank you. This lends credibility to the program and lets people know you truly are listening. (Note: If you are using Constant Contact's online survey tool, have the appropriate person sign up to receive survey response notifications so you know in real time when a suggestion is submitted.)


3. Take action. The next step for the person responsible for incoming suggestions is to decide if the idea is feasible. If it is, share the idea with your whole audience and let them vote on how cool/important they think the suggestion is. That way, they see you care, and you can discover what will have the most impact. Then communicate any actions (or non-actions) you are taking as a result of the suggestion to the person who made it (if she offered her identity), and also to your whole audience if acknowledgement is appropriate. This follow-through reinforces that you do listen. Your audience will now take a vested interest in you, and will be more apt to keep the great ideas coming in.


4. Consider incenting. For those that do take the time to provide brilliant ideas, consider entering them into a drawing for a discount off your services, or bonus material, or a free gift. If you do incent, make it clear that you are doing so right next to your suggestion box link so more people will take advantage of this. 

Implementing a web-based suggestion box will lead to innovative ideas and improved performance. Have questions about how to implement a web-based suggestion box to start your innovation train? Just click the comment box below and I'll be happy to help. Until next time, happy growing!

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