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.

it's time to really get serious about my love of the web

So coming back from a recent trip o/s and moving roles due to the downturn in the economy has really made me think long and hard about what I want to be doing. One of my loves is the web industry and I want to be involved in it as much as I possibly can.

To that end I'm going to post about my skillset and learnings and random entries about Usability, User experience, making things simpler to use etc. At all times I'll be doing what I love the most, which is helping people to make things simpler to use in everyday life to corporate systems, to make ourselves and our customers happy. A happy customer is someone who likes what 'u' do, sell or make and will give up their valuable $$ to get it.

So now that I've got my idea, I'm going to cover the following topics that all relate to how u or customers use what u do. Yep, this site will be all about what is hopefully relevant and important to u, both personally and professionally.

To do this I will be exploring my very diverse and extensive areas of interests, skills, knowledge and experience in such as :

• Ensuring equal access for everyone, and the challenges u may face in design and using something
  
• Web & mobile standards and guidelines and why they are so important to u
  
• User Experience and Human Factor, and why users are everything
• User & Interface Design (yes I think they are two different areas at present)
• User Testing, Expert Reviews and Heuristic Evaluations - see what really happens
  
• Personas - documenting the people u want to have, notice and like what u are offering them
  
• Prototypes and wireframes - the visual aids u might use in web development
  
• Information Architecture - how u make content come alive for ur customers
  
• Knowledge and Content Management - including wikis and re-use
• RDF and the Semantic side of the web - how u add structure to ur world
  
• Seperation of content, presentation and structure - XML and the like
  
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Analytics
• Online Marketing - how u connect with ur audience
  
• Social Networking, blogging, and other sharing experiences and how they can be used by u in ur life
  
• Digital media and communications - making ur comms work for u
  
• Web 2.0 and Enterprise 2.0
• Web 3.0 - what's the next areas of interest for u and ur users
  
• The world of Portability - from mobile (small screen) to notebooks (mid screen)
• Business Analysis including requirements gathering, customer relationships and even agile methodologies - documenting what u and ur audience want/need
  
• User Acceptance Testing and Auditing - ensuring what u and ur audience recieve
  
• Project and time management and how u ensure projects deliver on time, on budget
• quality, risk and process management - smart strategies to help u really deliver change and invigorate
• Metrics, benchmarks, forecasting and analytical review of data - I may even look into data mining (not everyones favourite but I am to show u how these tools are valuable skills)
• and of course a few other things that I've forgotten, that I'll pull out of my bag of tricks later.

Hope u will be as excited about the content as I am in writing it.