First Impressions of users with systems and websites

First impressions are made when meeting people as well as when a system is used for the first time. Like real first impressions, the first look and use of online and system environments is also as critical for it's ongoing success. People will rate a site very quickly.
When you look at something from the usability perspective of a first impression, consider,

1. usability - is it easy to use the first time, make sense to your users, fits with existing mental models that your users have
2. trust & reputation - your users need to feel confident that information is correct and reputable
3. purpose - your users must feel there is useful information, it could "close a sale", it inspires your users, does it meet user goals/tasks, it iscreditable/reputable/reliable/quality outcome
4. visually appealing - ie fit with the personality/persona of your users, people can pick up alot of subtle non verbal cue from visual presentation
   
5. visually matches the words or task focus eg
   if it's a travel site or system talk about destinations, adventures,
   if it's about style or luxury talk about aspirations, success, do not disclose price, consumerism
   if it's about value for money talk about clean lines, text, price, buy now
6. keep it consistent - if you are part of a chain of companies and people know this then if it is part of your plan re-use functionality, tools, look and feel so that people know what to expect. Otherwise use other well known models that people are already familiar with.
   

So the moral to the story is, first impressions are as important for systems and tools as they are with people, so make it count. If you don't deliver on what is stated then people are not happy and it takes alot to change their mind later.

Business Content Strategies - the content u need to remember

So u own a business, have a website, have a vision, dream, goal and action plan to make it happen.
Have u ever asked yourself or your staff how the content on your website, advertising, marketing, and even staff themselves contribute to, enhance and align themselves to your vision.
Words are so important to you and your company's brand. Not only do words communicate with your audience, but they also tie in the business, the website and other mechanisms that u use to talk to your customers.
Points to keep in mind when u are working with words and content:

• Who are u talking to ? if u don't know who your audience is how will you know how to communicate and engage them
• What does your audience want - why do people come to your site and what information do they expect to find on the site
• What do u want to say - what message do you want to try and get across to your audience. Also remember that u don't know who will be visiting your site, reading your ads, coming into your store etc
• what content do u already have, what do u need to create and who will produce it and how will u get it - if u don't know what u need and who will write it, then u really can't deliver to your audience
  
• remember that content also includes images, video and advertising material - make sure you get content in the format u need for your business to re-use in multiple ways eg blogs, videos, podcasts, traditional print media
  
• be consistent and unified - no matter what the content medium, ensure that you communicate the same way to keep it consistent with your brand and what you want to say
  
• look at the content itself - is it current, accurate, timely, on-brand, consistent, does it really say what u want it to say
• use the inverted pyramid - pack the punch up front, then give the audience more content in stages, so that they keep wanting to read more, search your site more, click on your site more
• ensure that you have the metadata, keywords and other aspects about your content correct - your metadata provides rich context to your content and will give it extra focus with your audience, customers and even search engine
• consider your key content messages and highlight these in both your website, content, advertising and SEO strategy
• ensure that your key messages are clearly articulated in every medium that you use to talk to your audience and customers - you must ensure that you are remembered and known for your core values and key value propositions. Knowing what your key messages are and ensuring that they they are clearly communicated can only assist your customers to remember who u are, what u sell and what why they should come back to u
  
• your content must seamlessly integrate with your user experience, personas, user stories and brand - you really must have a strong connection with your audience and customers (ie your users) and know exactly what they want and the words and language they use to really communicate with them.

So I really hope that this gives you a guide as to how a content strategy can help you connect with and maintain your relationship with your audience and customers.

making it easier ?? can we believe the benefits that mobiles are bringing to our lives

so as more and more people get 'smart' mobile phones that are capable of doing so much more than their initial task which was to make and receive calls, the web starts to move into the mobile world as well.
Consider how quickly this change has occurred!
In my view it is not so much aligned with social networking as a whole, but it is aligned with web 2.0 and putting the 'i' in the picture (which isn't quite the same as putting the 'i' in a social networking context). You can read email, facebook, twitter, listen to music, add photos to your online store, use online apps to work in the 'cloud' (eg Google apps that you don't need to store software for you just use) and in general you never have to sit at a pc/mac once. Data can be stored securily online, people can access many things securily via mobile, and in general the processing power of technology just keeps getting more powerful in a smaller package.
Not Bad you might say.....

But how does this translate to the generation and technology divide ?

Does this mobility start to impact greatly on the more senior population, because they are not as conversant with technology, use the mobile to keep connected but not download their lives for instant updates, are not so connected to the web and their social networks ?

It seems like years ago that call waiting and call conference were big telco items. LOL.

How do we look at and really analyse the benefits of being connected 24/7 via mobiles and pcs, when do we really start to see better use of the 'cloud' and online storage and connection models so that it's not gimmick but real value add to people's lives, in a way that everyone can use it.

And are the new range of mobile phone apps really helping people live their lives more richly, and enable people to develop deeper and richer connections, or is it just another way to waste time, get information overload, and really achieve very little ?

Now that's what I want to see questioned in more details and where I want to focus on.....

I'll discuss more about this in my next post, which will be able to be updated much more frequently I hope ;->

What makes a great interesting website, that people bother to return to

Getting a friend's website up and running is one thing, but how should you write for the web. It is such a different paradigm than print media.
So here's my views:

1. it's like packing for a holiday - sort out what you want, take half and get rid of it, then look at the other items and if they don't go with at least 5 other pieces also consider getting rid of the item
2. it's short, sharp, can be punchy, but it should be memorable - what is your message and why do you want others to read and care about what you've said
3. presentation is vital - ensure that you not only structure your content via a stylesheet but use the right techniques. For example you write a traditional print document. You would have a punchy heading, A summary to lead people in, the content that matters and the buy line that snags them and either makes people want to buy, or if you sell a service make them come back.
   
4. consider search and the power of words - if a subject is about writing good content, make sure that you include the words 'content' in the headings and throughout the text. Also in the metatags add the word 'content' for the page. All these things help your ranking and make you stand out from the pack as being relevant
5. keep it short - make sure it only ever fits on 1 screen. People don't scroll and you will lose their attention too quickly. Hmmmm that must be my hint to self to keep it brief, so hope that you enjoyed that short, sharp section. Wow, I've still got your attention, so consider what was one think you either learnt or remembered. Good then at least my content may have been useful and effective.