Opportunity: Three Domains for Sale
I’m selling 3 one-time popular domains that were once home to professional and well respected web sites. Usabilityeffect.com was purchased in 2004. The web site used to be where I placed my usability and search marketing consulting information and order forms. After six years, I came to realize that everyone seemed to associate me with Cre8pc and/or Cre8asiteforums. It was too confusing to try and explain how Cre8pc and UsabilityEffect were connected, so I removed the UE...
Read MoreYou Had Me At the Search Engines
You’ve likely heard of the movie, Jerry Maguire, with its famous line, “You had me at hello.” Jerry Maguire was luckier than web sites we find in search engines. Many web sites don’t attract user devotion at the first word, let alone after scanning the home page. How many times has this scenario happened to you? You’ve performed a search in a search engine or directory, reviewed the results and found a page description that fits what you were looking for. When you click on the page...
Read MoreOn a WordPress Kick
I’ve been teaching myself new things lately and one of them is getting away from the Thesis theme I traditionally use, and trying out other blog themes. That’s why this site looks different. So does Cre8asiteforums. The new forums home page is in limbo and not finished yet, but it looks far better than the previous home page did. Not only are themes interesting to get to know, but so are new CSS3 tricks. I’m not much a designer. Other people have artistic talent. For me,...
Read MoreTop Ten Must Have Books on Usability and Search Engine Optimization
The only that pours slower than molasses is universal acceptance of how well search engine marketing and user experience design work together. How long have I been writing here on the topic? Eleven years. Five people actually get it. Interest in the Usability and SEO combo is growing but mostly from the search engine marketing camp. Some of the more famous of my friends in the SEO industry have been including usability audits with their services for years. A few won’t even take on...
Read MoreFree Webcast on Usability and Search Engine Marketing
I’m about to try something new and I’m very excited! Having attended several webinars and webcasts presented by my industry peers, I was invited to do one myself for the American Marketing Association. You Are Invited! How User Centered Web Design Techniques Enhance Online Marketing How User Centered Web Design Techniques Enhance Online Marketing is completely free. I’ll do a 40 minute training with slides that contain how-to, tools and book recommendations, followed by...
Read MoreSearch Engines Are Like Home Delivery Trucks
While thinking about recent news surrounding the latest algorithm changes Google made and pondering something Matt Cutts has been saying about search, a picture came to my mind of a Google person arriving at my house delivering search results all packaged up for just me. The only thing missing was a little card. Perhaps someday search will be so intimately tuned in to us that such a personalized delivery of information will be possible. Of course, to do this, we’ll give up our privacy...
Read MoreWeb Site Design Goals Starter Checklist
Before you began a new web site design, did you pause for a moment and think about your goals? When you first sat down to consider your plans, did you think about your business requirements? Why do you want a web site? What do you hope to accomplish? How will you do this? Web Site Requirements Some example business requirements may be: 1. Increase the amount of qualified Search Engine traffic. 2. Increase the number of new visitors (and perhaps pre-qualify new customers). 3....
Read MoreBefore You Use Site, You Should Know It Sucks
This was one of the funniest invitations to try a web site I’ve ever seen. The invite was from a family member who is a regular user of a web site I had asked for an invite for. This was the reply, edited: Earlier today I sent [removed] an invite to view [the well known web site] in order to see how the process would appear to an invitee. He found it to be complex and confusing, which it is, so it may take awhile to find your way around [well known and famous web site] and all their...
Read MoreEvaluating Your Web Site Goals
One of my tasks when performing web site usability audits is understanding the goals and objectives its owner has in mind for it. Typically I can tell from some designs this wasn’t out from the beginning, so here is a quick review. Get Organized When you first sat down to consider your plans, did you think about your business requirements? Why do you want a web site? What do you hope to accomplish? How will you do this? Some example business requirements may be: Increase the...
Read MoreMaking an Impression on the Internet
There was a line once from a TV commercial that went, “If you want to capture someone’s attention, whisper.” Such a method may not work on the Internet. Save Forums I was curious to find where the new generation of search engine marketers and website designers are these days. I also wanted to know if the talented and skilled among the new folks were helping out the industry by passing along accurate information. I asked because this was how we used to do things. Chat...
Read More
