Paul Sizemore

Paul Sizemore  //  

 
Nov 21 / 8:31am

IA and the prospect to lead cycle

Navigation, Information Architecture (IA) and site maps helps users understand where they are on the site, and helps them quickly get to where they want to go. Users will not continue to use a site that is difficult to use. Because of this, navigation and IA is a core requirement to align with the online prospect to lead cycle.

It's very important that the navigational elements are consistent across the entire site. This allows users to have a visual indicator of where they are on the site, and determine where they want to go. It's of utmost importance that users know what the links are, and they are not confused with other elements of the site. Stay consistent. Often users end up minesweeping for links (moving the mouse to what they think is a link to ensure that it is a link). That scores up a deficient site in user's eyes. 

Users that arrive on site through searches have to have an easy way to understand the site IA and navigate around their destination to refine their information. The easiest way to alleviate this is to have  breadcrumb navigation. 

As far as the prospect to lead, it's important that the site's IA mirror the user's trigger events or personas. This will allow immediate identification of needed information, and you can define a site segmentation consistent with that trigger event. Once the user is on that path, you can pull the content pages that are applicable to that segmentation. Move that prospect to lead cycle up each time that user visits the site. 

For example, if the user goes to the third step of a prospect to lead cycle of 20 steps, the next time the user visits the home page, highlight the fourth step in the process. 

Remember, your site needs to be designed to help your prospects. The IA needs to be task-based in most cases. Help them find what they want to find, and you'll have returning visitors, and then leads. In most cases sites mirror a company's organizational structure, and not the hierarchy of prospect needs. 

Gather the requirements from your prospects, not your staff. 
Filed under  //  IA   Information Architecture   Internet Marketing  

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Nov 21 / 8:31am

B2B Home page User Interface Notes

The home page is often the most visited page on the site, and also the ‘face’ of the company. It is important for this page to mirror the goals and mission of the company along with presenting a strong sense of a dynamic and growth orientated company. 

It's important that the main content area change at least once a week. This sets the user and search engine's expectations that they need to check back that often to find the new content. The more relevant and meaningful it is, the higher impact that content will be. 

Flash animation on the home page can be a dangerous thing, at least as a Hero Image or main banner. Many times the same conversion goals can be accomplished in a more SEO consistent way. For example, a carrousel of images switched via javascript can be implemented, and that is very SEO friendly. Flash, not so much. Also, animation, unless done well, really challenges users. 

Another important factor is the labels on the page, or headlines. These must be what is expected. They need to be the same general visual  tone as the rest of the text. If they are too different, the user will not immediately see them as a text element, but as a graphic. 

Also, what is the one thing that you want users to do when they come to your site? If it's a lead generation site, make sure that's evident. If you are trying to nurture the lead, make that click path evident and easy. Use strong messaging. 

Getting the home page right is hard. The one thing you can do is to test. Test to see what works and what doesn't. 

Filed under  //  UI   User Experience   User Interface   UX  

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Nov 20 / 12:25pm

Brown Jazz Ensemble Performance

The Brown Jazz Ensemble played today at a Brown School Basket Ball game, and it was a real treat getting to hear them. 

Songs they currently perform include: 

•  "Watermelon Man"  by:  Herbie Hancock 
•  "Song For My Father"  by:  Horace Silver
•  "Mr. P.C."  by:  John Coltrane

Brown Jazz Ensemble Performance recorded November 19, 2009 on my iPhone

Brown Jazz Ensemble Performance   
(download)

             
Click here to download:
Jazz.zip (898 KB)

Filed under  //  Louisville   Music  

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Nov 19 / 2:15pm

Adding a new Google Analytics User

If you have an existing Google Analytics account, and want another user to have access to the data and reports, the best practice is to share the account with their Google Account.
1) After logging in to GA, select  ‘Analytic Settings’ in the upper left hand corner.
2)  At the bottom of the window, select ‘User Manager.’
3)  Select ‘Add User’.
4)  Select account administrator and enter the valid google account's email address.

       
Click here to download:
Adding_a_new_Google_Analytics_.zip (78 KB)

Filed under  //  Analytics  

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Nov 18 / 7:51pm

Wednesdays with Relic & Friends

Relic has a standing engagement at the Monkey Wrench on Wednesdays and usually starts at 9 pm.

"RELIC includes Chuck Sharp singing lead and harmony vocals and playing guitar; Adam Bibelhauser singing lead and harmony vocals and thumpin’ on the bass; Dave Howard on lead and harmony vocals as well as mandolin; and Aaron Bibelhauser on lead and harmony vocals and 5 string banjo."


Recording was made November 18, 2009 on an iPhone.

Relic  
(download)

           
Click here to download:
Wednesdays_with_Relic_Friends_.zip (554 KB)

Filed under  //  Fun   Louisville   Music  

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