One way for businesses to get more customers to buy is to generate more interaction on their website and to help them create customized products and services. Imagine how a new customer would respond when you contact them to deliver a solution that is already partially custom-tailored to their situation.

You can do this with Google Forms.

Google gives account holders the ability to create custom forms and embed those forms into web pages. When someone fills out the form, the information is entered automatically into a spreadsheet.

It’s easy to get started; all you need is a Google account. Here’s how to create your first form:

Sign in to Google (or sign up with Google if you don’t yet have an account. If you have a Gmail account, that is the username and password you use to sign in to Google with): https://www.google.com/accounts/Login

Once you’re signed into Google, go to http://docs.google.com. You’ll see a list of file folders on the right and a big space in the center. If you’re brand new to GoogleDocs, this is just an area where documents and spreadsheets are listed, similar to a file on your desktop.

Go the drop-down menu "New" and when you click on it, you’ll see "Form". Click that and it will take you to the form creation page. Across the top menu, you can add various forms of questions (text based, multiple choice, etc.), you can change the look and feel of you form; you can also email the form, view the answers in a spreadsheet format, embed the form in a web page, and save the form. And note, at the bottom of the page, is a link you can share with people if you don’t want to embed the form into your own website.

Question creation is simple: Just write in the title and the text and select the type of question from the drop down menu (and then add the specific text, depending on the type of question you write).

You can add as many questions as you’d like simply by using the "Add item" button in the top menu.

This is such a powerful tool and it’s a great way to get more interaction from your customers.

For example, before customers call you, invite them to fill out a brief survey so that you’re prepared to talk to them when they call.

Or, if you want to solicit feedback about an ebook, create a customer service survey and create a link at the end of an ebook inviting feedback.

Or, invite your mailing list to submit requests regarding what topics they’d like to see in upcoming newsletters.

Or, use this form as a way to sign-up attendees to an upcoming event.

Create as many forms as you want and embed them around your website to create customer interaction. When you sign in to check responses, you’ll see them in a spreadsheet, which you can download in various file formats. Don’t forget to check responses regularly and thank customers for participating!

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