For my next installment for Just Behave, at Search Engine Land, I described an online shopping experience that ended in no sale, even after checking out 10 web sites for the same product.

Internet Shopping Usability: No Guidance, No Interaction, No Sale is how my search for a product I already owned and wanted to buy again for my son, ended in no sale.

If you are a re-seller, this is a must read if your web site isn’t ranking well or selling. If you are an ecommerce web site owner, the lessons in this article may be applied to your site to help you solve mystery abandonment signals from your potential customers.

Note: SEO’s will find the article was submitted to Sphinn here.

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 0 comments }

Introducing the Kynya Kronicles

by cre8pc on December 30, 2008 · 0 comments

in Kynya Kronicles

Because we all love an excuse to sit back and watch.

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 0 comments }

How To Bitch With Grace

by cre8pc on December 29, 2008 · 5 comments

in I Have The Talking Stick

The other night, a girl was passed out in my laundry room.  I had a few choices. I could totally freak out about the alcohol that was covertly brought into my house by her.  That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to ground every teenager that was sitting in my basement glued to RockBand.  I didn’t do that either.

I wanted to bitch to high heaven about how stupid it was to not tell the parents that a kid brought gin to the house.  All the kids who were invited wanted to do was play Rock Band and hang out with my sons.  Yet, here was a teenager, passed out in my laundry room.  Eric and I were calm; making sure everyone was safe.  We spoke with all the parents and above all, had many talks with all the kids about the events that happened that night.  There were several stories about who did and did not drink, who was protecting whom, and each kid made choices. It was interesting to see who did what. My son knows he now has another choice if presented with an unruly guest.  He can ask for support from his parents.

Today, a friend wrote an article called What Are the Important Social Marketing Values? that sparked my curiosity because social marketers have spent the past few years testing the public to see what works. All manner of outlets are used to sell online, from fake avatars on social networking sites to link bait stories created for hype and hysteria. Little by little, trust between company, product and consumer has whittled away so that what exists now is a battle of who can write the better tale and sound believable.

A good marketing campaign stands out because the product, service, or company are interesting. They capture our attention in a positive way, through different principals, such as “same-ness” (Use this product to look like her”) to humor (lizards, ducks, cavemen, turtles) to informative (infomericals, health). Services and products that make people happy do well. However, if just one person has a complaint, they can bitch online and bring down a hailstorm of hell for people and companies with no facts, no proof, no witnesses, and nothing to back up their claims.

When bitching about someone or a company, I look for clues that the person has listened to all sides of a story, obtained evidence and can show proof of expertise or experience to back up their claims. When they can’t, then it’s their opinion and while they’re welcome to it, an opinion is not the whole story.

When the girl who passed out in my laundry room awoke the next morning, she proceeded to find the ingredients in my kitchen and made french toast for everyone in the house.

There was more to her story. There was something to learn by everyone who shared in the events that led up to her being in my house. I could have passed judgment. I could have raised hell. I could have bitched about deceit. I could have jumped to conclusions and not waited for more of the stories to come forth by the kids involved. I could have scared all the parents rather than making sure each kid was safe first.

It’s what I would hope for us as we continue to use the Internet for shopping, socializing and education. That we respect each other. That we allow room for choices and growth. That if we have to bitch, we do it with grace and fairness.

That if we ask for dignity, we have dignity as well.

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 5 comments }

This is a quick reminder that fees for the basic quick report and the more robust web site persuasive design usability reports return to normal on January 1, 2009.

These two reports are very popular with two groups of web site owners. Small businesses and startups, who have never had any input into web site usability, will benefit from the Edge report.  This extremely affordable resport includes screen shots, alerts of bigger problems if they exist, and is intended to both educate and support your plans.

The larger report, also at a price cut, is strictly focused on persuasive design heuristics and increasing conversions. It’s perfect for the struggling web site that may be ranking well in search engines, but isn’t converting that achievement into satisfying results. A quick user interface and error messaging check into one small application is included for the Extended Converter report. (Note: Corporate and large sites must be performed on an RFQ basis.)

Order now at these prices or contact me to see if your web site qualifies. The UsabilityEffect Order Form can be used for quotes and questions.   A 50% deposit holds your deliverable date for 2009 and gets your web site into the schedule. The first quarter is always very busy, so it’s wise to lock in your web site now for earlier testing.

For larger projects, RFQ’s, application functional testing and other services, please visit UsabilityEffect to learn more.

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 0 comments }

“Tis the season to wear myself down to sheer exhaustion and still not get everything done that I have in my head I “need” to do. I’m slipping into the family-dimension of visits, gifts and wine. Of seeing family I only get to see once a year. Of naming a new puppy.

The ordeal of losing our puppy, Winnie, a few months ago messed up everyone in their own way. For me, I had bonded with her and had the most time with her before she died. A lot of talking, help and advice from friends and strangers, plus new training for our Golden Retriever helped. I could never explain to anyone why I wanted a puppy. We already have a dog, 3 cats, fish and a frog. And our house is not big at all. I’ll agree with anyone who says we’re nuts to get another pet. I did months of research and settled on looking for a female mix of Shitzu-Bichon. I wanted one with tan in its coat. We waited and waited. To make a long story short, in which there was a small army looking for such a puppy for us, she is now here. We got her on Sunday.

The naming process has been hilarious. My son’s girl friends began texting as soon as he sent out pictures from his cell phone. They came up with names, such as Lilly, Maggie and holiday names like Noel. She was almost called Chickasaw, because the Golden is named Dakota. The names Enya, Saki, Shasha, Sachi and Nevada (means snow) came up. Stefan suggested Kenya, playing off Enya. It’s been a tie for Lilly and Kenya, with me still searching Hawaiian and Japanese names.

Whatever we name her, she’s healed the family and lifted our spirits. Even the Golden is learning tolerance for having his tail chased after and paws nibbled. The cats have been a huge surprise and been accepting.

This year we had less money to spend on gifts and I was too busy to make the gazillion cookies and loaves of homemade breads I typically make. This Christmas, everyone wanted to just be together. We’ve all been working hard and our schedules so hectic.

Somewhere in this scattered gab is a wish for you all to find peace in your days. I love talking to you.

And from myself and the entire staff at Cre8asiteforums

Cre8asiteforums

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 2 comments }

Kimberly Krause Berg Videos

by cre8pc on December 19, 2008 · 0 comments

in Kim Krause Berg, cre8pc

There’s nothing like an interview to make me want to go on a diet and find the fountain of youth, but in case you missed these…

Kimberly Krause Berg: Full Circle Marketing & The Future of Forums. Interview and shoot by Aimclear’s handsome Manny Rivas.

Next, Sally Falkow’s interview. Click on her name to see others she did while in Chicago.

Lastly, this one is one of my favorites. It’s part of a shoot done for Search Camp Philly and features me, Beth Harte and a cameo of my son.

I’m looking forward to making more funny, if not at least a bit informative videos next year. Maybe Santa will bring me a video camera! If so, I can show you my office mates, Dakota, Opie, Otis and Oreo. And the fish. And frog.

Add to Del.cio.us RSS Feed Add to Technorati Favorites Stumble It! Digg It!
    www.sajithmr.com

{ 0 comments }