A guestbook is a web page where anyone can leave a note about you or about your product and/or service for you or anyone to see and read. The comments left on your guestbook can be positive or negative. Some people consider the addition of a guestbook to a web site the mark of inexperienced web site designer. Other people see guestbooks as an interactive feature that can provide the necessary feedback the web site owner needs to make their site, product, or service better. No two web sites are the same, so make your decision based on what you want to achieve with your guestbook rather than what you've seen or heard about guestbooks. Here's the good and bad of having a guestbook on your web site.

The good

1. Satisfied customers can leave comments about your product or service for others to see. This is quite similar to word of mouth advertising where potential customers feel better about your product or service based on the comments of satisfied customers.
2. A guestbook also says that you are confident of your services or products and all comments posted on your guestbook will be rave reviews.
3. Some people use guestbooks as a way to find relevant information similar to what is on your site. Most likely when a person signs your guestbook they will leave a link within their comments directing readers to similar information.
4. If someone takes the time to post a message to your guestbook they are most likely a satisfied customer or a potential future customer. If you reply to one of your posts you can thank them for stopping by your site and add a small plug for your products or services. In this sense you provide a friendly thank you rather than an automated response. Your guestbook is similar to a mailing list of people who indirectly know you.
5. Your guestbook can provide you with ideas on how to improve your site.
6. Anyone can read your guestbook to find valuable tips and contacts from it. Sometimes it can be a gauge of the mentality of your audience.
7. If you have a guestbook that only you can read you will be able to choose which signings are deserving of a response. You will not have to worry about content that might offend family viewers. At the same time, you'll be protecting your viewers from e-mail harvesters [junk mailers].

The bad

1. If you currently receive e-mails from dissatisfied customers you may not want to have a guestbook. In this situation you will find the guestbook becomes a forum for unwanted reviews of your product resulting in potential customers reading then turning away from you. This can work in your favour if you remedy all situations in a timely manner. You may gain the reputation as a person who embodies great customer service.
2. Some people find signing guestbooks a time-wasting task and most of the time just ignore this feature.
3. Spammers can remove e-mail addresses from your guestbook and use them to send unsolicited email.
4. Guestbook abusers. People who roam the Internet looking to waste the time of others by posting defamatory messages aim at causing a stir in other readers or the owner of the site. If you are the only one who will see the posting, you can make this known and it may act as a deterrent to people who only want to spread bad news. Your honest users may thank you for thinking of their safety by protecting them from the spammers.

The conclusion

Before making the decision to add a guestbook or not:

1. Review your current e-mail and if you already receive favourable feedback, then by all means add a guestbook and let the world know that you have a great product or service.
2. Do you have the time to personally thank individuals for signing your guestbook? This is key since most posters do not expect you to answer and if you do it is a welcomed surprise. It's common courtesy and a great marketing tool.
3. How many other interactive features do you have on your web site? You can have too many and if you already have a bulletin board or e-mail forms that are used frequently by visitors, you may not want to have a guestbook.

   Respect the privacy of your Guestbook patrons. You may want to include an option in your form that allows your visitors to have their comments restricted to your eyes only and not presented to the general public. Obtain permission before posting customers' comments on your product or service review page.

Here are a few places where you can get free guestbooks.

The Internet Tool Zone - http://www.toolzone.com/

The World Famous Guestbook Server - http://www.lpage.com/

1-2-3 Webtools - http://www.freeGuestbooks.com/