Tag Archives: web marketing
No inside jokes
So UX has been coming up in conversation lately as I have been speaking to new and current clients. I’ve talked about managing the user’s expectations, but what about the trust factor?
The digital space can be a scary place. Lots of bad people are are sending you emails from Nigeria or Kansas asking for your banking information so that the can send you millions of dollars. Companies are asking you to fill out a form so that you can download a PDF of fairly useless information. It’s enough to make you uninstall your browser.
I have long told my students my axiom: brand=trust. So how can a business make that true on the web, which is a low-trust environment? More importantly, how can you get a user to perform a task that he/she is inherently reluctant to?
Transparency
So many times as a youngster, I asked my parents “Why?!?” is response to their requests. Your users are asking the same thing…so tell them! What does it cost you to be honest with your user and tell them why you are asking for information? Better yet, what can you gain in loyalty to be up front and honest with them about the information request and what you plan to do with it? If cast the ask in terms of a benefit for the user, chances are they will comply.
Demonstrate that you value and will protect the exchange of information.
Make sure that you convey to your use that the information that you collect from them is safe in your hands. Have a privacy policy. Make sure that the user knows that you have a privacy policy and, most importantly, let them know what to expect from that exchange of information.
Trustworthy design
Ever bought fish from a beat-up station wagon or a generic white van? Of course not. Equally, shabby/confusing/cookie-cutter design does not lead to user trust and actually deters them from making the purchase/engagement decisions that you want them to make. Need I say more?
The bottom line is that users expect shady behavior in the digital space. Pleasantly surprise them and never make them feel that they are not in on the joke.
adventures in facebook microtargeting pt.2 (UPDATE)
So the Facebook microtargeting campaign has been going on for a couple of weeks now and I have to say that it is a resounding success. The CTRs are hovering around .25% (I know, right?) and my client is paying an average of $.50 per click. So let me give you a little more background:… More
Branded QR Codes in action
While they might not be a new phenomenon as digital phenomena go, QR codes are certainly making an impact with small business. Jim Israel’s Conjure Consulting, a client of mine, is using QR codes to great effect. We created a generic branded QR code that will take the mobile user to a special landing directory… More
fan me
At the beginning of the month, I decided to add to the M19 MEDIA fan base with a Facebook ad and get some valuable multi-variate testing in. Of course, this isn’t my first time at the Facebook rodeo (see I Couldn’t Have Done it Without You), but I wanted to test a theory as well:… More
a UX anatomy of evil
Here is an example of great user-centric design. I saw this commercial for Money Mutual, a non-bank lending institution (they make Wall Street look like choirboys) with a very official-sounding name and an oddly familiar logo. Here is a screen shot from their website: Yes, that’s Montel Williams. I’ll save him for another post. Right… More
Shock and aww
So I was engaged in a conversation earlier today about User Experience, UX for short. This, along with User Interface (UI) design, are the hot button topics of web design now. Suddenly, companies care about their users now that the web has evolved and flattened so that users have a say in how they interact… More
I’m in the mood (board)
Recently I asked my peers on LinkedIn.com about their opinion on the use of mood boards. There was a mixed response. Some were fully in support, others thought that it was an unnecessary step in the development of a design project. I’ve made a decision: mood boards are essential steps in the creative process. One… More
Son of MOAT
So I promised that I would follow up with you about MOAT. Here’s the drill: I had a nice conversation with one of the founders of MOAT, Anthony (“Ant”) Taylor. He agrees wholeheartedly that measuring engagement is the emerging model in online marketing metrics. Further, he agreed that this kind of measurement establishes new value… More
it’s not me, it’s you
Ever been on a date where the person that you’re with talked only about him/herself? They get boring fast, don’t they? Well, the same can be said for your website. You know that I have nothing but love for my small business clients. They are overachievers. They create something from nothing. They are proud of… More
