Make Your Customers Dance by Marc A. Majers, Adds Beat to User Experience

By Janet Dodrill

Make Your Customers Dance: The Key To User Experience Is Knowing Your Audience, book by Marc A. Majers.

Have you ever been to a party or wedding with a DJ? They can energize a crowd and make the event a memorable experience for all.

Meet experienced DJ emcee turned web strategist, and you have Marc Majers, author of Make Your Customers Dance: The Key To User Experience Is Knowing Your Audience.

In this book all the heavy web strategies are addressed and discussed in detail. And to take it a step further, Marc compares the importance of each phase of building a website to that of setting up an event and getting ready to ‘spin’ some records. It adds a level of understanding and fun to what could be a complicated subject matter. The book tells us how to approach the website as a valuable part of your business, and the reader is drawn in by the comparison and the importance of planning and executing an event, engaging the participant, and creating something that can be taken away.

Because of Marc’s expertise as an information architect and digital strategist, he lists a great deal of content about content! And that is where we are in today’s content-driven web world. Everything that has been discussed in the past twenty or so years in the web industry is covered from a vast wealth of collective information from the tops in the field. Areas which include web visual and interface design, navigation and function, objectives, user centered design (UCD), user experience (UX), research and prototypes, analytics and evaluations, testing methods, and most importantly, how to begin.

If a DJ has the goal of keeping the dance floor packed, then wouldn’t it seem logical for a business owner to keep traffic coming to their site, engaging them when there, so they leave having had a good experience?

As a practicing web designer myself, I have known Marc for many years, and have seen him present complex topics to other web professionals, always coming well-prepared and delivering with knowledge and enthusiasm. He has always made what the experts in the field are saying available to his listeners. And I’ve have seen some of his well-structured websites in use. I was aware of his DJ-ing, but have not, until now, seen him combine his knowledge of web development with a light-hearted ‘twist’ on concept and approach.

Marc stresses the importance of knowing your audience, like the professional disc jockey is hired to manage a special event and must ‘tune in’ to the guests to give them what they are looking for in music to make them want to dance all night! With proper steps in building your web site you can satisfy your customers when they reach your web page and perhaps sell more than your competition, with potential of repeat business.

See what others see in your site and take it to the next level, with this recommended must-have publication.

Majers is also author of Don’t Fear The Forward, a hands-on guide to building a successful website for those who may be having trouble getting started, with smart ways to get organized and move ahead.

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Make Your Customers Dance: The Key To User Experience Is Knowing Your Audience is available on Amazon, a valuable resource for anyone involved in planning, building, or maintaining a web site.

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Copyright article and images. All rights reserved. Not to be used without permission.

#marcmajers #informationarchitect #digitalstrategist #webdesign #webdevelopment  #userexperience #ux #usercentereddesign #ucd #makeyourcustomersdance #dontfeartheforward #thewebassociation #leadinghands #janetdodrill

Joe Pulizzi On Latest Book, Content Inc.

By Janet Dodrill

The Web Association welcomed Joe Pulizzi, Founder and CEO Content Marketing Institute.

Last month, I heard Joe Pulizzi (@CMIContent), Founder and CEO Content Marketing Institute, speak at The Web Association, held at COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises) in Cleveland, Ohio. He speaks on a regular basis (He noted that ours was his 71st presentation of 2015!), and has authored several books including bestselling Epic Content Marketing.

Joes Pulizzi points out ways to connect and engage on both a personal and professional level.

Joe discussed his newly published book, Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses, which is sold on Amazon.

Using the Content Inc. model, he reviewed the many forms of engaging through social media: social blogs, wikis, video, rating, social bookmarking, internet forums, pictures, microblogging, weblogs, and podcasts.

It was stated that the importance of communicating through the creation and distribution of your own information to build audiences is key.

A few highlights of his talk included these points:

• Create your mission statement: have a defined audience, deliver, then measure the audience outcome.
• Establish your content type and platform, deliver consistently over a long period of time, i.e. e-newsletter.
• Loyal customers can mean increased product sales and revenue.

He pointed out ways to engage socially on both a personal and business level. Personal avenues include blogs, books and public speaking, whereas business methods could be digital media, print (yes, it still a valued form of communication), and in-person contact.

Takeaways:

-Find a niche and become a leading expert
-Develop your content mission
-Focus on content type, platform and delivery consistently
-Build an audience of opt-in subscribers
-Create an amazing e-newsletter and download
-Audience first, products second
-Be patient!

In his book, Content Inc., Joe breaks down the process to visualize, launch and monetize your own business, based on his own success and failures. This is explained through case studies.

Are you looking for a startup-business strategy? Perhaps kick-off the new year with his business-growing strategy. The Content Marketing Institute website is full of good information, plus there is an email news sign-up and podcast network. Also be sure to watch the 43-minute movie which explains how the marketing of the future is all about brands telling stories, in “The Story of Content: Rise of the New Marketing.”

 

Me with Joe Pulizzi!

Joe Pilluzi’s book, Content Inc. (Joe likes the color orange and orange shoes!).

“Janet, go out and be epic!” – Joe Pulizzi (signed in Joe’s favorite color — orange).

A great feature for your business website is an email signup, like that on the Content Marketing Institute site.

COSE, Council of Smaller Enterprises, a division of the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Art Apps for iPad, ArtStudio and Inkpad

By Janet Dodrill

ArtStudio for iPad
By Lucky Clan
$4.99
v5.16 (Oct. 2013)
Sylwester Los
(iPhone c.2010; iPad c.2012) iPad Mini, iPod

Offers In-App Purchases:

1. Pack 1 $4.99
2. Watercolors $.99
3. Hair $.99
4. Fur $.99
5. Fire $.99
6. Oils $.99
7. Smoke $.99
8. Grass $.99
9. Markers $.99
10. Trees $.99

Selected Specs/Features:

-Raster-based
-iOS 4.3 or later
-21.5MB
-5 Star Rating
-Export as JPG/PNG/PSD to camera roll, email, clipboard, iTunes
-450 Brushes,150 free
-Sizes (In-App) 1024 x 768 iPad (approx. 14 x 10.5″ at 72ppi, 2.25MB/2.5 x 3.5″ at 300ppi); 2048 x 1536 (approx. 28 x 21″ at 72ppi, 9MB/6.75 x 5″ @ 300ppi); iPad with Retina; Max image size 3264 x 2448 (approx. 45 x 34″ at 72ppi, 23MB/10.75 x 8″ @ 300 ppi), other presets

Resources:

Lucky Clan http://www.luckyclan.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/lucky_clan

Manual http://www.luckyclan.com/artstudio_manual.pdf

Features http://www.luckyclan.com/artstudio/?page=features

Examples of what can be done in ArtStudio (videos) http://www.luckyclan.com/artstudio/?page=videos

ArtStudio Flickr Gallery (iPhone) http://www.flickr.com/groups/artstudioimages/

ArtStudio How to get started digital painting on iPad, David Allen 6:59 (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBfeKFYc5xU

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Inkpad
By Taptrix, Inc.
FREE
v1.2 (Mar. 2014)
© Steve Sprang (Creator of Brushes App)
(c.2011)

Selected Specs/Features:

-Vector-based
-iOS 7.0 or later
-5.1MB
-5 Star Rating
-Export as JPEG, PNG, PDF, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), SVGZ (Scalable Vector Graphics compressed), Inkpad
-Sizes (In-App) Sizes i.e. Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A4, other standard sizes, or Custom Pixel; Portrait or Landscape options

Resources:

Twitter http://twitter.com/taptrix (No Tweets!)

Inkpad Demo, TaptrixInc 3:05 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU2UFmrDGk4

Apps Tutorial – Inkpad, John Patten 14:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZwrecRbsRo

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Note: This material posted in preparation for Cleveland Digital Publishing Users Group’s “A Quick Tour of Art Apps for iPad” presentation, March 27, 2014. Featured speakers include Nancy Dinger Aikins, Henry Lee, Janet Dodrill, Marvin Sable.

Do You Have Your Own QR Code?

By Janet Dodrill

A QR Code is a Quick Response Code (similar to a bar code), that many businesses are now using in their marketing materials, which can be scanned on a smartphone using a free bar code scanning app, to take the user to a web page. This puts relevant company information at the users fingertips quickly so they don’t have to worry about typing in the web site URL. A free QR Code generator can be found at www.qrstuff.com, and there are many more available.

Similarly, there is a Microsoft Tag – a tag bar code that can be scanned on a smartphone using a free Tag app (this will also scan a QR Code) and can be created free using a Tag Manager tool.

Some creative visual QR Code solutions are displayed in a Mashable article, “HOW TO: Make Your QR Codes More Beautiful“.

The Cleveland Institute of Art QR Code Poster

I have seen many unimaginative ways of using these codes in marketing pieces, though still a new promotional device. I think they are catching on and their utilization is becoming improved. Here are some I’ve seen that I feel are effective.

This clever Cleveland Institute of Art hallway-hung poster takes college students or prospectives directly to a variety of key departments. (See image.)

Hoy Newspaper Box in Chicago

This Chicago Spanish newspaper, Hoy, uses an ‘in your face’ technique. You don’t have to bend down far on the street, perhaps on your way to work, to read this scan! (See image.)

The Cowan Pottery Museum Introduction

This code is the first of four near pottery exhibits throughout the American Art Pottery Association Show & Auction this month, which enabled attendees to access a tour of Cowan Pottery Museum in a series of YouTube videos. (See image.)

The Bonfoey Gallery

The Bonfoey Gallerydisplays this code on their door for after hours access to their exhibits and services organized on their web site. (See image.)

This is a QR Code I created to take you to my web site, www.artsysites.com. (See image.) Create yours and use it in a creative way.

Artsysites.com QR Code

 

 

 

 

 

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Cleveland Asian Festival invitation, good QR Code usage.

 

Also, see is my good and bad QR Code usage comparison as posted on my Facebook page in March, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Since writing the above post, see the May 5, 2012 reposts by QR Code ® Artist, www.qrcartist.com. Explore their site further for more on QR Codes.

Cowan Pottery Museum QR Code tour

CIA QR Code Poster

Chicago Spanish Newspaper ‘Hoy’ QR Code

Search Engine Strategies at The Web Association – Recap

By Janet Dodrill

Search Engine Strategies, the topic of The Web Association‘s presentation 2/28/12 informed a packed room on relevant content strategies for search engines to improve organic rankings.

Moderator Ryan Morgan, ERC prefaced the meeting by pointing out facts like Google now has 62.2% of search engine market share, while Bing has 15.2% and Yahoo 14.1%. He outlined that the two biggest factors to search engine results are page content, and number of links to that page. Inbound diverse and quality links across many pages is desirable.

He stated that page level keyword usage accounts for 15% of results, and that domain level keyword usage only accounts for 11%. Rising trends are relevance and value (to user). Decreasing trends are domain name keywords and the effectiveness of paid links.

Eric Pryor of Rosetta stressed the three tiers of a successful site were components 1.) Technical (crawlable, built-well with everything working, and loads fast), 2.) On-site Optimization (content), and 3.) Off-site Promotion (relevant, authoritative, significant linking to site).

Co-presenter, Dave Skorepa of Aztek made the point of how important the content of a site is, and the best designed site will not look good if it lacks content. The customer is responsible for content when approaching a web design firm. Content strategy should come first, before the web site design.

He used Smashing Magazine as an example of a well-executed site, both in content, and in design and the visual experience. He shared that the best sites have relevant, current information; attract the target audience; retain visitors; create and maintain customers; establish credibility; further business goals; make connections; foster communication; and create a community.

It was recommend to create other kinds of content for your web site, like: blogs, forums, quizzes, podcasts, FAQs, and surveys, to name a few. Content consists of traditional on-site methods (i.e. page titles, META tags, images and alt tags, text content, video) plus use of off-site content (news releases, articles, blogs, images, videos, etc.).

This year’s content strategy for Coca-Cola was mentioned (Google it!), that consists of 70% low risk (already works), 20% expansion of that (pushing what already works), and 10% new ideas (take chances, makes some mistakes, fail fast).

Dave presented a ‘Content Cycle’ (and suggested to repeat this often) of segments: Research; content creation; content optimization; content promotion; content distribution; link building; measure results; strategy development.

It is beneficial to create ‘Purpose Pages’ defined with goals that can be used as templates for other pages in site, that could, i.e. be a product details landing page, demo, solution, or case study.

A good discipline would be to create a calendar for your business, in order to schedule when and what you post. Develop content for the year to better prepare for your busy times, planned promotions or holiday themes.

Research the topic more. In Google type in “content strategy” or “content marketing” to learn more. The rules and standards change fast.

Dave Skorepa’s slides: www.slideshare.net/AztekWeb/seo-andcontentstrategy

Source: Logo property of The Web Association

Book: Don’t Fear The Forward by Marc Majers

By Janet Dodrill

Don't Fear The Forward, book by Marc A. Majers

Marc Majers has published a book on a simple step-by-step process for building and launching websites, called Don’t Fear The Forward.

He recently presented his perspective on the subject at CDPUG/GCPCUG Web SIG, which I attended. Marc used music (he also works as a music emcee), humor, and actual statistical data to back his information on usability and other measurable website criteria. Those who attended were lucky enough to receive a free ‘checklist’ which Marc stated is in the book, and is also a free download online.

“It is important”, Marc said, “to show people thoughts, ideas, and the (proposed) process, early on, and to get feedback.” In his overview he pulled stat reports from eMarketer, PEW Internet’s research on desktop to tablet to mobile browser comparisons, and offered resource links to information by web champions like Jakob Nielson, and other industry-relevant educational and government sites on usability, CSS, and HTML 5, and recommended the use of surveys, which are all important for support in building a website.

The checklist had steps for planning a website project, and each step was a separate category with tasks to do. Necessaries covered included defining your site goals and determining your audience, mapping out your site in a wireframe and finding logical places for things on the site and a way to navigate to them.

It is a good idea to put together a web committee to assist in the process from concept to completion. The content for the site comes later on in the process. How are you going to engage your users once they reach your site?

Marc spoke from a wealth of experience, with expertise in usability testing, working within the high selling environment of an online insurance company, and in a creatively-demanding arts institution with a diverse audience.

As with most web related topics presented today, he touched upon the use of focused searched engine keywords, SEO (optimization), SEM (marketing), SMS (messaging). Have you thought of acquiring an email source provider for managing and sending professional, scheduled email campaigns, as a next phase?

It is key that once a site is built following guidelines, like those outlined in Marc Majer’s book, it must be continually optimized for relevance and performance. This may be the website building manual you have been waiting for.

The book is available at:

Don’t Fear The Forward
http://www.dontfeartheforward.com

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Fear-Forward-Building-Successful/dp/1257087711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322954267&sr=8-1

Book image source: Dontfeartheforward.com

Does Your Site Count (to Google)?

By Janet Dodrill

In attendance at The Web Association’s “What is up at Google? Panda? Google + ?” November 4, 2011 meeting, industry-knowlegeable speakers brought up thought-provoking issues like Google’s May 2011 blog post “More guidance on building high-quality sites” which, in addition to discussing the Panda algorithm search rankings release, lists questions for criteria for, according to Google, what counts as a high-quality site . Can the material be considered trusted, and is the material the sort of thing you would bookmark or share with a friend? Is the content original or does it offer insight on the topic? Would you expect to see the information printed in a publication? These rules may be in attempt to help to reduce ranking importance put on web content farms (sites with redundant article topics and content) created by web scrapers who repurpose article content and create links from web pages and sites not their own. Also discussed at the presentation was, when you write an article it is helpful to target your keywords on each given web page (instead of loading it with too many unrelated keywords), and then to post it to the web and submit it to one article site (a few include: Ezine Articles, Ski Doo, A1 Article, HubPages, etc.).

Are you utilizing the Google “+ 1” button feature on your sites and in your profiles when available?

Do you use the Google Chrome browser (now more popular than Firefox), or Google Analytics for web stats? They are both evolving with added social sharing tools.

Are you sharing all you can across all your sites? Today’s web is fed by user visibility. Google is ever-improving its search engine speed, as it increases its awareness of its users, and strives to define users on the web to better improve their web products.

On Google +? This may be the next large social platform to encompass our multiple lines of web communications, according to one speaker.

Want a fun break-up to your day? Mashable recently posted 10 hidden Google tricks which are revealed in their article Beyond Barrel Roll: 10 Hidden Google Tricks and include some entertaining surprises.

Data Fees Everywhere; For Tablet Add Another

By Janet Dodrill

Someday soon I would like an iPad or tablet, however I do not want to pay for another data plan. I pay for one for my computer internet service, I pay for one for my smart phone, and am looking at paying for one with a tablet. I would like to take the tablet traveling and have access anywhere, hence I would need more than a wireless capability. The computer DSL, smartphone, and potential iPad could currently not be combined by one carrier. Does anyone else suffer from this dilemma?

Amazon is releasing a new tablet, Kindle Fire, available this fall. It is said to be half the size and less than have the price of an Apple iPad [read the Kindle Fire article]. It’s cute [see the Kindle Fire product]. It has web, and the capacity for movies, apps, games and reading (Does it really need a camera?).

What are the ways people justify it as a business expense? I know it would make a great traveling portfolio for any graphic designer or web designer.

Be Your Best in Business

By Janet Dodrill

Are you doing everything you can to grow a successful business? By being self-employed, doing some things could put you in a better position to get work, grow your business, and acquire and retain the right employees. Katherine Miracle of Miracle Resources gave an inspiring presentation tonight to CDPUG members at Virginia Marti College of Art & Design on Cleveland’s west side. Her best advice is to read the book, “The Successful Business Plan”, by Rhonda Abrams.

A few things covered were, that, as business owners, we need: money to start the business, a good networking source, self-confidence, and a role model/mentor. Also, we need an accountant and attorney to stay legal. When selling our company and services, we need to inform what sets us apart from the competition and state how the potential customer could benefit by using us. Do we have an operations plan for the business, in case we are away, so things can run as usual? What criteria do we have for hiring, and are we prepared to resolve internal employee-related problems, as well as client-related problems?

How much profit are we making on projects and are we tracking our income and expenses monthly? Do we have money set aside for a business emergency, and are we always asking for a deposit on projects, and/or receiving progress payments?

It may be a good idea to communicate regularly with your client to give them a project status, even if it is in a short email. Build alliances with other designers in the event of overflow work to subcontract out or accept in.

Review projects well to avoid mistakes and to keep costs in check.

Stay flexible with this economy and be prepared to reinvent yourself and your offerings to stay appealing and relevant. Get opinions and feedback.

Most importantly, be good to yourself and get what you need each day, and each week. This will help you to be the best you can.

Members’ Stories on Fire by ‘Ignite’ Presentations

By Janet Dodrill

Presenting in the Ignite-style

During our last meeting of Cleveland Digital Publishing Users Group (CDPUG), we held our 6th annual CDPUG May Show, where members display their professional work. The group, a non-profit organization dedicated to education and professional development for digital publishers (including graphic designers, web designers, photographers, and writers) in its 23rd year, has a dedicated volunteer staff and board.

This year member presentations left behind tables of printed brochures and portfolios, and laptops running slide shows to a trendy and popular Ignite format (www.igniteshow.com). The website explains the structure of stand-up presentations on a big screen of 20 slides per person with 15 seconds of talking time per slide, for a total of 5 minutes time. Recommended application formats were PowerPoint, Keynote, or Acrobat PDF (for which I created mine using Adobe Bridge, exporting to PDF). There are many interesting videos on the website to view and enjoy, and they were a big help in preparing.

I participated, and rather than giving a standard portfolio show, I presented ‘a year in my life’ which included my basic education and passions, challenges and obstacles overcome with the poor economy, benefits of networking and newly acquired clients for my sole proprietorship freelance graphic and web design business, recent interests and achievements including creating fine art works and displaying and selling it, and current projects I am working on. The time went quickly.

Each individual had an interesting spin to their show, and though the Ignite format was strict, it allowed each member to be creative and tell a story which was entertaining and enlightening. It was a success and I hope we continue to use Ignite in the future.

(Photo by Henry Lee)