Signs of a Great User Experience, on ReadWriteWeb.com, here, talks about the success of some marketing products like Fire compared to similar projects. He reminds us that the user rules, and everything needs to be geared towards making what you’re doing the most fantastic user experience you can find! How does your site change the user from that point on? Now, that’s good question to ask!

Some of the most downloaded applications on the Android Market, are

• Astro File Manager (212,445 downloads),
• Dictionary.com (162,706),
• Ringdroid (156,012),
• GO Launcher EX (294,176)

My interest is this: What makes these applications popular and others not as popular? Why download these apps?

A few notes on these apps and why I think they are downloaded a lot:

1. They do something a person needs with shorter hassle. * easy interface, important to consumer, and little hassle
2. They offer more than one option on what you can actually do. Each application is a window into several functions or uses. Did you know on Dictionary, you can see which words people near you are searching for?
3. It’s personal by offering customization and personal interaction. Each application allows the user to “make their own little Droid world” on their phone, or as in the case of Dictionary, allows the user to enter a custom word (rather than select from a standard list). You are telling the application what to do within that niche.
4. Obvious and big interfaces, buttons, input boxes, etc. All of these have a very clean, uncluttered design.
5. Matching instructions for each application with screenshots, how-to’s, video tutorials, etc.

Android put out a new Design primer, here. Critical pieces, as they conceive the use of this code:

• Should combine beauty, simplicity and purpose with enchantment.
• Keep words, messages brief. Pictures are faster than words.
• Use tricks other apps use -keep the learning curve down.
• Put the most important thing first. Only put what is necessary at that moment.
• Make the navigation intuitive, simple, consistent, and fast. Use action bars.

The Action Bar.

The action bar is arguably the most important structural element of an Android app. It’s a dedicated piece of real estate at the top of each screen that is generally persistent throughout the app.

The main purpose of the action bar is to:

• Make important actions (such as New or Search, etc) prominent and accessible in a predictable way.
• Support consistent navigation and view switching within apps.
• Reduce clutter by providing an action overflow for rarely used actions.
• Provide a dedicated space for giving your app an identity.

If you’re new to writing Android apps, note that the action bar is one of the most important design elements you can implement.

A smartly branded website carefully selects everything from color to navigation to design style to locations of interaction to give a perception about who you are and whether you should be trusted.

Put People Burst on your team for a smart website development with the right branding.

                Get Started Now.
	     

I wanted to show you a few examples of great websites which communicate very differently. Which approach to branding fits your purpose and feel?

Matt Mullenwag, founding developer of WordPress: This is his personal site.

Playful, colorful and personal.

Wall Street Journal, all business and information.

Grid like pattern using colors to focus on reading.

Charles “Chip” Marshall, an author’s epic story feel brand.

Splash page, bold colors (epic feel), immediacy of content like picking up a book to browse.

Pinterest, to intersect social sharing with keeping your favorite things in one place.

Focused on photos with captions in a clean grid pattern, using an unobtrusive background.

Android Development, to share resources for developing Android applications.

Developer, focus on navigation and finding a category of information is foremost.

Best Buy, to sell electronics and gadgets.

Use of blue (communicating trust), focus on "deals" and getting click-throughs (we're the best deal going - best buy).

 Today, I invite you to submit what you wrote. In March, I’ll post them, and you can get ideas from others as you read what others wrote.

It’s time to be entrepreneurial folks! Put on your thinking caps, pull out your pens … on your mark, get set, GO!

Submit through commenting to this article . . . or use the form to submit and upload a file.

What good is your business, if you don’t produce? Aren’t there days you roll out of bed in the morning and think “I need a vacation?” Or perhaps this is the day you need about 5 more cups of coffee before you’re ready to hit the ground running with a sales call or networking opportunity?

If you haven’t met David Seah, you should. He’s pretty open about how he attacks a process – so that he’ll keep moving ahead rather than slowly draining and accomplishing nothing!

You want to accomplish great things today! And David has some tools to help you – no coffee needed.

“The Emergent Task Planner” is the tool I use most often to keep me focused and moving ahead. David created it, for times like these. It’s not one of those tools to collect dust on your shelf. If you put this at the beginning of your day (following prayer), you will find it moves you in the right direction, and you will have accomplished what was most necessary by day’s end.

Now, go download it yourself. (Use the link to the left, Find the Emergent Task Planner for your operating system, right-click on David’s link and choose “save as”)

Read up on how to use it. It’ll take you 20 minutes today to learn it and you’ll have a very rewarding week to show for it.

Your engines will be revving up in no time!

You might think it’s interesting that a gal so into technology is suggesting such a low tech tool! In next week’s post, I’ll tell you about some of the tweaks I’ve made to David’s Emergent Task Planner and the ways I interface it with other tools. You’ll want to build a process as well.

There are several types of Creative Common Licenses. Here are a few you might prefer (see the legal codes on the Creative Commons website):

Creative Commons License - Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA
Basically, if you use it, you have to let other people share it as well, and works you use this licensed content in are open to sharing as well. Attributions to author/creator are required.

 Creative Commons License – Attribution-NoDerivs CC BY-ND
Allows for free use, even commercially, but only in it’s original form (no derivatives) and credit must be given to the creator/author.

Lifehacker wrote an good research article on finding free images online. Check it out and bookmark the sites it lists for your next “I need it in a hurry” project.

Why not considering publishing your material under a Creative Commons License? Go here to do so.

I challenge you to hone this down. Now!

Telling your story well is your bread and butter. Other people can’t tell who you are or what you do unless you tell them. And other people won’t “value” what you do, unless you can say it in a compelling way.

Here is Carmine’s video on developing that story, and the 4 components which need to be in it.

Four Steps to Quickly Share Your Business Story

Mr. Gallo gives an example in his article, “How to tell your business story in 60 seconds or less“:

We own Five Star Cleaning, an eco-friendly housekeeping service that pampers you and your home [what your business does]. Typical cleaning services make you prep your home ahead of time, supervise to prevent theft and hang around for hours while the cleaners do their work. Because we require no prep, this saves time right off the top, and we are bonded so our service is worry-free, allowing you to go about your day [what problem does it solve]. And, we always send a minimum team of three to get the job done quickly [how it's different]. Imagine coming home from a long day and your laundry is all done, your bed has been turned down and there are fresh flowers awaiting you. That’s the extra pampering we offer that sets us apart from all the rest [why you should care]. – by Carmine Gallo on Entrepreneur Magazine.

A webpage is one canvas to “tell your story” the same way.

You can use the same “formula” as above to get a crackerjack story onto your pages.

Here is People Burst’s 60 second story:

We help entrepreneurs and businesses get their office and web jobs done with a talented network of professionals and freelancers. [what we do] Many small businesses are overwhelmed by the amount of technical and back office knowledge they must have, but they don’t have the payroll to put five talented people into their back office. People Burst saves the company money AND gets the job done very professionally. [what problem does it solve] Many companies do your website or get your brochure done, but very few can also send a catered lunch for your next lunch meeting or get your company’s social media process working or send a person to file and answer phones. [how it's different] We are “your people” staffing your back office. You look like a big company on a small company budget. [why you care]

Take the challenge entrepreneurs!

It doesn’t matter what kind of website you’re making or what software you’re using to make it.

You MUST use these 3 very basic communication & design integration practices – to make this a site worth putting up!

1.) Make sure to know what technical ability your audience has. Don’t make something they can’t use EASILY. In web design circles, this is called “usability.”

Websites are useless if the consumer can't use them.

For example, here’s a really fun website, (griplimited.com) but my mom would become frustrated very quickly. People flustered by technology would do poorly with this site and probably leave it as soon as possible! Also, this particular site is built in ‘flash,’ which is not supported on many tablet or phone devices. So, if your audience is accustomed to using a smartphone or tablet, they will not be able to navigate the site at all.

Peter (peterpixel.nl) has compiled research into a Beginner Web Designer’s Usability Guide here.

Checklist:

• Make typography (the text) easy to read and plain. (sans serif font face, good contrast, large enough to read without squinting!)
• Is the navigation to other pages easy to read and understand? If your audience is older, make the typography bigger with more contrast between the background and text.
• Is the navigation logically organized and where your audience would expect to find it?
• Is the page simple and uncluttered? Can they see what they’re looking for within 5 seconds? (Do you know what they’re looking for on your website?) Is there one focus which draws your eye immediately and does it lead you about what to do on your site?

2.) Pay attention to some basic color theory. Choose a “palette” or repeated colors which actually look good together. One online helper is Color Explorer.

Of course, the field of color theory is complex, and full of scientific research about how colors affect consumers and memory. Some people believe color is a “matter of taste.” Science would say otherwise. If you’re interested in a snapshot, take a look at Color Matters.  Stanford University uploaded this video exploring the psychological effects of color.

3.) Creating Order: Grids, Alignment, and Grouping. You’ll find a lot written about the “960 Grid” on the web. Basically it’s a rule of aligning elements on a page in a “perfect” arrangement.

Great design exudes confidence in the content.

A grid pattern helps the designer line up elements horizontally and vertically. You can tell the difference this makes when you move one item out of the alignment pattern. It makes that element stick out, which could be good if the design purpose is to draw the eye to that element above all else. However, if you put multiple items out of alignment, the design becomes confusing to our brains.

In other words, alignment and grouping give cues to us about a visual hierarchy and how to interpret the information. And … drum roll please … order, grouping and alignment give your audience confidence in the information. (You want them to feel confident about your product, right?)

Congratulations John!

One go-to-guy for People Burst in the design world is John Rhea. Mr. Rhea freelances “after-hours” for people needing design products like logo designs or full motion picture video spots.

Recently John completed a project worth telling you about! John’s “day job” is as webmaster for the  University of Virginia. We applaud his innovation in – The Curry Blog.

It’s beautiful, full of finesse, and starts a new wave to engage alumni, students, faculty and staff.

I want to talk with you about some practical, nuts and bolts advice.

This is a simple list of 5 top mission critical items any nonprofit should watch carefully during and following incorporation:

• Always tell your story, in as many ways as you can. Everything rests on how well you can articulate your reason for existence to many types of audiences on the drop of a dime (but hopefully $10,000, right?). I write down “my story” to match as many scenarios as I can imagine really happening. This may seem like an exercise to keep you busy while the teacher’s out of the room, but I promise it will pay large dividends. Write it out!

• Your story needs to include who you are, why this nonprofit exists, and a warm story or statistic about it’s impact. Have an elevator speech available with a follow-up question to engage the elevator!
• However, also have a follow-up train of dialogue focused on getting the potential interested person’s contact information.
• And always ask: “Do you know someone who might be interested in this kind of cause?” You never know where the rabbit trails will lead you.

Tip: Have a designated or paid photographer at every event you hold so you can have a picture in hand.

• Next, celebrate your accomplishments, even if they seem small. Get these mini celebrations out to your supporters and Board of Directors, asking them to share your story with someone else this week.  Share why this story is so amazing! And, be amazed yourself.

Tip: One of the toughest parts about running a non-profit is remembering to celebrate the little victories! Celebrate often and put it in your calendar as a priority.

• Always be interested in people above tasks! You got this one, right? This is the best piece of advice I got from a friend who is highly effective with fundraising across the country. He said, “You need to hear from the person you’re talking with. I’ve left conversations because I realized the person doing the talking had a presentation and didn’t really care about me or my thoughts.” Sometimes we launch into “doing” our business so effectively that we forget to wonder how our business is effecting the other person’s life. We need a special, wonderful curiosity about what people are thinking. I read a statistic one time which said most personalities measure on the introvert side! And I’ve found it true that only a small percentage of people will actually tell you what they’re thinking about your project/program/cause without you specifically asking them what they think. People are like turtles – keeping all of those helpful thoughts inside their shell. Encourage them to tell you what they care most about! It could lead down wonderful conversation paths which help you build rewarding relationships now and later … or it could give you insight into how best to involve this person with your organization.

Tip: Practice open ended questions (i.e. not ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers) related to the person you are meeting. One example, “How would you suggest we tackle this problem?” or “What kinds of things keep you up late at night?” Listen carefully.

• Don’t do a non-profit alone. Have an accountability partner or coach. Most nonprofit work is pretty much about being a self-starter. Most people don’t know what you do day-in, day-out. And it’s easy to set-up unhealthy patterns of work. So, set your compass straight from the get-go, and make sure you have a person willing to hold you accountable to what you do day-in, day-out. Like a salesmen, make attainable but challenging goals that will have the most impact for your ‘product sales’ (membership, constituency, program, cause) – and measure it with someone else looking over your shoulder. And set your work hours, off hours. Don’t mix the two – easier said than done for most nonprofit lovers!

Tip: Who do you imagine would be good at keeping you on task with your goals and to-do list? Ask them for help. How often do you believe you might need a check-in? Make a clear list of your goals and expectations of yourself and keep it handy.

• Watch your finances like a hawk. Have a bookkeeper as soon as possible but never give up the responsibility to know day to day where your company is financially. Keep every receipt, take a picture of it in your phone or make a copy, and file it at least weekly with a note about what mission based expense that expenditure is for. Write thank you notes within 48 hours of receiving a donation, or have someone responsible who will faithfully follow-through with that task. Develop policies and a system to keep your money use on the “up and up.” Protect against embezzlement or tempting someone to embezzle. Be diligent and worthy of trust and respect when it comes to financial decisions and expenditures. Remind your Board of Directors often what your financial goals are, how your expenses are being spent on behalf of your mission, and how the Board can help (in specific ways and with training at meetings).

Tip: Discover and select at least 2 Board members with a strong financial expertise background. Collaborate and review with them in a monthly or quarterly meeting. Develop a financial reporting form with them which accentuates your core mission and values.

• A bonus help: Spend time each month (on your calendar) considering how your work could have gone more smoothly or quickly administratively. Make an “administrative bucket list” to get done this year and plan which and how to delegate items to others! Are you set-up online (in The Cloud) to share information with trusted volunteers and members? Do you have a shared administrative calendar so others know what’s coming up and why it’s important? Ask your coach and other businesses how they “get things done.”

Call us for help in building your “Cloud” (online tasks) collaboration with volunteers system. We’ll help you delegate and make the job go smoother.

This website needed to coordinate with written pieces useful for potential partners, with an easy way for a potential donor to download brochures and pledge cards. People Burst works diligently to match written material with website content and design.

Water’s Edge also needed a special web form created which would allow someone to immediately send a pledge online. But they also needed to make it easy for a pledge card to be downloaded and mailed in, if that potential partner desired mailing it.

This is an example of the way images and written material can shape the design and implementation of a website. See People Burst work at: partners.watersedgepartnership.org.