Acquire taste – (37signals)
Well said: Acquire taste – (37signals). I admit that I’ve been guilty of subscribing to the “you’re just born with it” school of thought when it comes to taste but I’ve come to realize that this is somewhat elitist and also just plain not true. Additionally, it serves as a cop-out and an excuse to avoid the responsibility of having good taste. Don’t be lazy – learn to understand the details that matter.
Read More50 Web Usability Tips that Help You Attract and Retain Web Visitors
Thanks to Douglas Karr, I discovered a very useful list of usability rules that make good sense to review every now and then: 50 Web Usability Tips that Help You Attract and Retain Web Visitors. A nice reminder that little details matter.
Read MoreThe Birth of a Professional Web Site
Recently, many of our new clients at SpinWeb have expressed interest in what our process is for creating web sites. At SpinWeb, we have a highly systematic and proven process for designing, building, and deploying professional web sites successfully. The following is an explanation of how that process works and will offer a better understanding of why we do the things we do and what we are actually doing as a site is being created. Blueprint The first step in creating a professional web site is the blueprint. Just as you would not build a house without a blueprint, we don’t feel that a...
Read MoreAre Your Web Site Error Messages Turning Away Your Customers?
I was registering online for an event this week using a credit card and experienced a usability hiccup on the organization’s web site that I found noteworthy. As I was completing the final steps of the registration online, I clicked submit and instead of being greeted by a confirmation screen, I received an intimidating red error message that said “Your credit card has been declined.” Ouch! No one likes to hear that. However, I knew the card was fine so I tried to think of other reasons for the error. Then I realized that the billing address I had entered was not the one...
Read More5 Tips for Improving Your Email Newsletter
Having an email newsletter is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to communicate with your constituents in a positive way. However, I’ve noticed that many organizations are not taking full advantage of this medium. There are many subtle guidelines that are important to follow when publishing an email newsletter. Here are a few tips to help maximize the effectiveness of your newsletters. 1. Utilize a professional design. It amazes me how many times I receive an email newsletter that contains broken images, low-quality photos, and incorrectly formatted content. Most people...
Read MoreThe 8 Types of Bad Creative Critics
This really brightened my day. Working in a creative field, we are constantly fighting against the subjective, sometimes misguided desires of our clients despite the fact that we have been hired as the experts to provide creative services. It’s always nice to see that other creative professionals go through the same challenges. Enjoy! The 8 Types of Bad Creative Critics
Read MoreBook Michael to Speak
Michael is a dynamic and sought-after speaker for conferences, meetings, and trainings. He delivers high-value engaging content for groups of all sizes. Book Michael Now.
