Just a quick post to get the word out. We are hiring for a part time web designer / intern. So GO!, tell your friends, family, pet rock, people you don’t even know.   

http://www.factor1studios.com/work-here

What is a user-friendly site and how does a user-friendly design help business? User-friendly sites are not only easier to navigate through, but they are more effective in reaching people because users can find what they are looking for, they feel satisfied in getting what they need, and in turn they feel good about you as a company or organization.

We hook up the majority of our clients with a content management system and thereby hand over a good chunk of responsibility for user-friendliness. The design of a site still plays a major role, don’t get me wrong. The size and readability of text, the background they are placed on, and where they are placed on the page are all important. Those parts of the design are a big factor in how easy to use it is. And that responsibility rests on us as designers. However, clients using the cms decide what pages they want and where they are placed within the site. They add all their text making decisions on where heading styles are used. Different heading styles allow text to be separated into easily distinguishable paragraphs with titles.

Many people don’t realize how important having a user-friendly site is. It can definitely make or break your site, no matter what the background looks like, or how cool the rest of the design is. If people can’t figure out how to find your contact information because it’s buried in your site, then they can’t call you, can’t purchase your product or come to your church. Sitepoint has a great book/kit The Usability Kit that goes into details about large sites and how important usability is. Many of their tips and pointers can be used for small sites as well, as usability is always important when you don’t have much time to impress your clients and customers on the web.

Whenever something takes longer than the predetermined time I have alloted for it, I can feel my satisfaction and enjoyment waning. On the other hand some things in life need to be extended: mountain bike riding, a very nice meal with my wife, a good fight scene in the movie and a much needed Sunday afternoon nap. But, finding a critical piece of information or receiving a needed service are not among those items.

Unashamedly, I like to fly Southwest Airlines. Online check-in is quick and easy (although I do have a suggestion about how to make it quicker) and boarding is a breeze. Today I found myself riding ‘twinkie’ on a very full flight to Atlanta via Delta. I don’t love Delta. The online check-in was very SLOW, requiring me to visit 3 more screens than S.W. and also much less user friendly. The ‘boarding’ process had 7 zones, people still mysteriously crowd up to get on and amazingly they found a way for it to take longer getting on. The beverages cost money PLUS they are slow in coming, the airplane & internal tv’s are OLD and even though I could pick my seat, I still have to ride in the middle cause that is all that was left.

I expound on all of this because when it comes to websites, service companies, responses to needs in the world, finding vital or common information, telephone & email interactions… ALL OF THEM should be quick and easy. WHY? Because people just like me and you have already experienced that they can be, so now we won’t find it reasonable or enjoyable to experience anything contrary to that.

This recent clip from Conan illustrates perfectly the modern mindset of consumers — love it or not.

Do the hard times really bring out the best in businesses and non-profits?

I believe so.

One recent commentary on our current economy strongly suggested that during lean economic times it is natural for people to trend towards ‘BEST’ even when on a whole we are spending less. Think about it, even the BEST companies are cutting their prices right now. It isn’t the BEST companies that are going under, but mostly the sub-par and also the marginal ones. The BEST out there are competing like never before and are positioning themselves to survive & SUCCEED during these times. Some of the BEST products are now in reach of purchase where they weren’t before. Heady organizations are putting their dollars into their BEST core products or contributions.

Below is a link with a short interview from Seth Godin as it relates to positioning your company or organization.

Here are some additional thoughts:

• what can we do to REFINE our organization?
• how do we UNIQUELY set ourselves apart from our competition?
• in which areas are we STRONGER than everyone else?
• do we care more about being known or more about being on target and succeeding?
• which of our people make the most irreplaceable contributions?

Godin Interview : http://mashable.com/2009/02/04/seth-godin-advice-for-startups/

There were definitely some great Super Bowl ads this year, with the one second Miller High Life ad (which was genius I think!), the Coke and Monster ads and some good ones from GE. My favorites are always the funny ones, and although it was hard to pick a favorite, this is definitely one of my top picks.

this commercial has a GREAT spin on name recognition, humor with the obvious and not taking yourself too seriously – who won’t remember this the next time they are needing some quick money for their gold? (how many of us can really  relate to that anyway?)

Its that time of the year again, where we all stop to admire 3 million dollar ad spots for their creativity, edginess, hilarity, or cuteness. 

Hulu.com has all of the super bowl ads up online. In case you missed them, or just have to see it again. 

Here is my favorite ad:

I am sure Ryan and Shannon will post their favorites here soon.

What was yours?