CMS systems are now pretty standard for any company's website - they bascially let clients control their own content. For a designer this can be the equivalent of sending first your child off to school and hoping that all that hard work won’t be undone by the spotty kid teaching them to say c*nt on the first day.
There are plenty of pros in letting clients control their own content but it can be dangerous in the wrong hands. The last thing you want is for a slick cool site to be ruined by a pixelated,stretched JPEG and badly formatted text. I’ve been thinking about this and believe it’s absolutely essential that everyone using CMS systems aren’t only trained on how to use them technically but also how to use them to good effect. I have perhaps thought about this a little too much and come with the following analogy.
“We are landscape gardeners who spend days cutting the hedges, trimming the grass, installing the water feature and preparing the compost so it's all just right. We then hand it over to the client, to plant the flowers in the beds. If they know nothing about gardening, all the flowers die or look out of place and any visitor’s attention will be drawn to the crappy flowers rather than the marvellous water feature and neatly trimmed grass. As expert gardeners, it’s our responsibility to teach them to dig out the weeds and how to make flowers blossom.”
Oh how we chuckle, at the thought of blinky animated GIFs being fun, flash intros being absolutely essential and we won't even mention frames!
Now of course the buzz word, the "new raver" in the digital world is Web 2.0. Although web 2.0 has many advantages and certainly won't end up on the rubbish heap with blinking text, it has it's time and place.
The problem is that many businesses are effectively shoe horning web 2.0 into their existing sites or planning their entire site around social media when it's not always appropriate. It's the new must have and some people are buying into it without thinking.
Therefore I've put together 5 questions you need to ask before setting up a web 2.0 site.
1. Are Web 2.0 elements appropiate to meet your business needs?
Ask yourself why you are creating your social network, video uploader etc. What advantage does your customer/audience base being friends, making comments and connecting really have for your business? Could it even damage your business?
2. How will you build a community?
You can build an all singing, all dancing web 2.0 site with a mini facebook and UGC galore but unless you have an online community to use it, then it's pointless. People get over zealous about web 2.0 and want to jump in feet first. It's the equivalent of opening a 1000 people capacity venue and then just 10 people from the pub next door turning up. You'd feel silly wouldn't you?
Now that there is so much competition out there and social media is some what overcrowded, it may be better to phase in your web 2.0 elements a bit at a time and slowly build a community. That way you can get to know your punters and understand if your site is a strictly shoes only venue or if t-shirt 'n' jeans are just fine.
3. How will the site be moderated?
Don't even ask if the site needs to be moderated if you are using UGC- it does. If you are selling actual products rather than making money from attracting visitors to your new shiny web 2.0 site then I suggest you need pre-moderation as this will protect you from any malicious comments from competitors etc. That established, who is going to do this? Perhaps the community can moderate it's self by flagging offensive comments?
4. Are you re-inventing the wheel?
Maybe social media is your USP within your industry but what is your USP within social media? What does your site do that facebook, youtube, last fm, digg etc, don't?
Can you link up with other social/UGC sites? Why make users upload all their photos to your site as well as Flickr - save them the hassle and integrate Flicker with your site (dopplr.com does this well). It's unlikely you can successfully build the next facebook so work with them, not against them. If there is already a community built up that would be interested in your service/product then why not become part of that community rather than making your own?
5. Do you have the resources attend to your web 2.0 needs?
Web 2.0 doesn't look after it's self. For example, you cannot have a blog that is not updated regularly - it's worse than not having one at all. Have you got the resources or indeed enough news to write regular blog? Have you got staff ready to moderate comments, forums etc. Do they understand social media? Have your got the resources to gather the feedback received from your community?
I could write loads more points to look out for but you'd be bored, and I'd sound like I was raining on the web 2.0 parade a little too much.
I like 2.0 (I don't like it's name), it's turning traditional media/marketing on it's head, it is here to stay and by in large we should embrace it but how we do that should be very carefully thought about.
Now of course the buzz word, the "new raver" in the digital world is Web 2.0. Although web 2.0 has many advantages and certainly won't end up on the rubbish heap with blinking text, it has it's time and place.
The problem is that many businesses are effectively shoe horning web 2.0 into their existing sites or planning their entire site around social media when it's not always appropriate. It's the new must have and some people are buying into it without thinking.
Therefore I've put together 5 questions you need to ask before setting up a web 2.0 site.
1. Are Web 2.0 elements appropiate to meet your business needs?
Ask yourself why you are creating your social network, video uploader etc. What advantage does your customer/audience base being friends, making comments and connecting really have for your business? Could it even damage your business?
2. How will you build a community?
You can build an all singing, all dancing web 2.0 site with a mini facebook and UGC galore but unless you have an online community to use it, then it's pointless. People get over zealous about web 2.0 and want to jump in feet first. It's the equivalent of opening a 1000 people capacity venue and then just 10 people from the pub next door turning up. You'd feel silly wouldn't you?
Now that there is so much competition out there and social media is some what overcrowded, it may be better to phase in your web 2.0 elements a bit at a time and slowly build a community. That way you can get to know your punters and understand if your site is a strictly shoes only venue or if t-shirt 'n' jeans are just fine.
3. How will the site be moderated?
Don't even ask if the site needs to be moderated if you are using UGC- it does. If you are selling actual products rather than making money from attracting visitors to your new shiny web 2.0 site then I suggest you need pre-moderation as this will protect you from any malicious comments from competitors etc. That established, who is going to do this? Perhaps the community can moderate it's self by flagging offensive comments?
4. Are you re-inventing the wheel?
Maybe social media is your USP within your industry but what is your USP within social media? What does your site do that facebook, youtube, last fm, digg etc, don't?
Can you link up with other social/UGC sites? Why make users upload all their photos to your site as well as Flickr - save them the hassle and integrate Flicker with your site (dopplr.com does this well). It's unlikely you can successfully build the next facebook so work with them, not against them. If there is already a community built up that would be interested in your service/product then why not become part of that community rather than making your own?
5. Do you have the resources attend to your web 2.0 needs?
Web 2.0 doesn't look after it's self. For example, you cannot have a blog that is not updated regularly - it's worse than not having one at all. Have you got the resources or indeed enough news to write regular blog? Have you got staff ready to moderate comments, forums etc. Do they understand social media? Have your got the resources to gather the feedback received from your community?
I could write loads more points to look out for but you'd be bored, and I'd sound like I was raining on the web 2.0 parade a little too much.
I like 2.0 (I don't like it's name), it's turning traditional media/marketing on it's head, it is here to stay and by in large we should embrace it but how we do that should be very carefully thought about.
As Digital Project Manager, you are often dealing with challenging situations. Clients expect the moon on a stick, with neon flashing lights for 3p, when none of your developers have much experience of the moon, sticks or light fittings.
New cutting edge projects are likely to need research and development time, which often impacts on deadlines and of course budget. Thus new technologies can put the fear of god into any Project Manager, creating negative connotations with innovation. Innovation that is essential to keep up with, if not lead current web trends.
This is just one reason why putting budget aside for new technology research/development is so important. I think it's a good idea to have a budget set aside for this within a controlled environment, preferably not involving client deadlines. Also it keeps your "creative types" and developers, happy and motivated.
Head London seem to have fully taken innovation on board with their Head Labs project. Best of all it's making them money too as clients have seen what they are doing and want a piece of the pie. To be honest you are better off letting Head telling you about this first hand at www.headlondon.com/pages/head-labs. They have a fab logo too.
New cutting edge projects are likely to need research and development time, which often impacts on deadlines and of course budget. Thus new technologies can put the fear of god into any Project Manager, creating negative connotations with innovation. Innovation that is essential to keep up with, if not lead current web trends.
This is just one reason why putting budget aside for new technology research/development is so important. I think it's a good idea to have a budget set aside for this within a controlled environment, preferably not involving client deadlines. Also it keeps your "creative types" and developers, happy and motivated.
Head London seem to have fully taken innovation on board with their Head Labs project. Best of all it's making them money too as clients have seen what they are doing and want a piece of the pie. To be honest you are better off letting Head telling you about this first hand at www.headlondon.com/pages/head-labs. They have a fab logo too.
Designer chairs & battered sofas - funkability vs. usability
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
| Author:
Jo Goodwin
Just been looking at plusgood.co.uk. The site's navigation is inspired by those lovely sitemaps we all spend hours over.
It's nice idea, fun to use but f**k me is it frustrating to use should you actually want any specific information.
It could be improved by making the "map" which appears to be only a visual representation, clickable or by indeed providing one those "boring" traditional sitemaps. But then, if you have to use one of those to make your nav work, your site's nav is flawed.
There is an accessible version which is nice to see. The problem with this is it's less usable than the flash version, as it doesn't have any buttons taking you to the main areas of interest.
Call me old fashioned, call me boring, but you know what? I need a site, to above all give me the information I need, quickly. Unless it's a site where you hit Bush round the head with a shoe or such like.
I can see what they are trying to do and indeed people are talking about their site - which is going to appeal to an audience looking for someone to create viral websites. In that sense a round of applause is called for. The trouble is I couldn't even find out where plusgood were based - yeah I know - it's doesn't matter in the digital global world. The fact is, I'm a country bunkin' and if I was a digital marketeer, choosing my digital agency, one of the first things I would ask "Are you local?" or at least "where are you from?" I'd be a bit suspicious if I couldn't find out fairly quickly. Basically, I got impatient when trying to find specific info.
On the other hand, I really don't like using Jakob Nielsen's site www.useit.com because it is so god damn ugly. It's like eating gourmet food in a burger bar. Not that I think that all of Jakob Nielsen's ideas are of gourmet standard but that's another day's discussion.
To sum it up, I'm the type of person who will go "oooh nice shiny designer chair" and will then walk past to sit on the comfortable, practical, battered old sofa. I think there are lots of us sofa lovers out there. Good website design is about striking a balance between "ohhh shiny" and practical, in manor that's appropriate for the audience.
It's nice idea, fun to use but f**k me is it frustrating to use should you actually want any specific information.
It could be improved by making the "map" which appears to be only a visual representation, clickable or by indeed providing one those "boring" traditional sitemaps. But then, if you have to use one of those to make your nav work, your site's nav is flawed.
There is an accessible version which is nice to see. The problem with this is it's less usable than the flash version, as it doesn't have any buttons taking you to the main areas of interest.
Call me old fashioned, call me boring, but you know what? I need a site, to above all give me the information I need, quickly. Unless it's a site where you hit Bush round the head with a shoe or such like.
I can see what they are trying to do and indeed people are talking about their site - which is going to appeal to an audience looking for someone to create viral websites. In that sense a round of applause is called for. The trouble is I couldn't even find out where plusgood were based - yeah I know - it's doesn't matter in the digital global world. The fact is, I'm a country bunkin' and if I was a digital marketeer, choosing my digital agency, one of the first things I would ask "Are you local?" or at least "where are you from?" I'd be a bit suspicious if I couldn't find out fairly quickly. Basically, I got impatient when trying to find specific info.
On the other hand, I really don't like using Jakob Nielsen's site www.useit.com because it is so god damn ugly. It's like eating gourmet food in a burger bar. Not that I think that all of Jakob Nielsen's ideas are of gourmet standard but that's another day's discussion.
To sum it up, I'm the type of person who will go "oooh nice shiny designer chair" and will then walk past to sit on the comfortable, practical, battered old sofa. I think there are lots of us sofa lovers out there. Good website design is about striking a balance between "ohhh shiny" and practical, in manor that's appropriate for the audience.
Ok, I've finally logged back into my account after some time away. Since I last wrote, lots has happened! I'm well on my way to getting into Digital Marketing.
For nearly a year, I have worked as a Digital Project Manager. This has been nothing less than a rollercoaster of emotion! Never the less it has been interesting, fun, revived my interest in the web and given me the chance to work with some huge household names.
At the agency I've been employed at the PM (Project Management) role includes both managing time/budget and writing wireframes/IA - quite unusual, I think?
I've now decided that my heart is in getting a website right for the client and meeting their customer needs rather then just getting it out on time /budget. In essence I'm not a pure Project Manager - in fact my heart is in taking offline marketing principles to the web and making them work online. Therefore I want to concentrate on being an expert in this field.
What I'm slowly getting to is, I've change role again. In one months time I'll be a Strategic Consultant for a NMA top 100, London based agency.
In my new job, I'll be working more closely with clients to make websites that really do combine marketing knowledge, audience needs and business needs to make websites that work. The company work with focus groups, truly investigate audiences and user journeys. It's all stuff that you dream an agency will do when you are sat in lectures at University.
I feel pretty bad for leaving my current company, after all they gave me the chance to cut my teeth. At the end of the day, the reason I love the web is the speed at which it moves on and I need to be moving with it. I feel, I have made a at least a small mark in my current company. A senior PM at the company thanked me for inspiring her about the web again text me this "I've been stagnating for years with my career as a PM and this is the first time I've been motivated to raise my game & learn latest about the industry". That makes me feel proud.
I really hope I have made the right decision. I love working where I do now but I need to strive to take my career in the direction I want it to go in. Reading my first post written on here just under a year ago, I'm fairly pleased with my process so far - let's hope I've made the right move and I can continue to develop my skills.
My New Years Resolution - to write more on this blog!
For nearly a year, I have worked as a Digital Project Manager. This has been nothing less than a rollercoaster of emotion! Never the less it has been interesting, fun, revived my interest in the web and given me the chance to work with some huge household names.
At the agency I've been employed at the PM (Project Management) role includes both managing time/budget and writing wireframes/IA - quite unusual, I think?
I've now decided that my heart is in getting a website right for the client and meeting their customer needs rather then just getting it out on time /budget. In essence I'm not a pure Project Manager - in fact my heart is in taking offline marketing principles to the web and making them work online. Therefore I want to concentrate on being an expert in this field.
What I'm slowly getting to is, I've change role again. In one months time I'll be a Strategic Consultant for a NMA top 100, London based agency.
In my new job, I'll be working more closely with clients to make websites that really do combine marketing knowledge, audience needs and business needs to make websites that work. The company work with focus groups, truly investigate audiences and user journeys. It's all stuff that you dream an agency will do when you are sat in lectures at University.
I feel pretty bad for leaving my current company, after all they gave me the chance to cut my teeth. At the end of the day, the reason I love the web is the speed at which it moves on and I need to be moving with it. I feel, I have made a at least a small mark in my current company. A senior PM at the company thanked me for inspiring her about the web again text me this "I've been stagnating for years with my career as a PM and this is the first time I've been motivated to raise my game & learn latest about the industry". That makes me feel proud.
I really hope I have made the right decision. I love working where I do now but I need to strive to take my career in the direction I want it to go in. Reading my first post written on here just under a year ago, I'm fairly pleased with my process so far - let's hope I've made the right move and I can continue to develop my skills.
My New Years Resolution - to write more on this blog!