everything hinges on good design

Longer and louder, bigger and bolder, more RED..more RED TEXT! This must equal more SALES?! Is that why so many of these sites exist? I am sure these one page wonders are selling so much and that is why the font keeps getting bigger and page keeps getting longer, right? Cram it all in, 24 PT FONT here, NOW…no, NOW…BUY NOW! You know the sites I am talking about! I really want to know who buys from these types of sites? If you can get me a list, I have a really COOL NEW AMAZING PRODUCT THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER WITH JUST ONE CLICK, BUT KEEP SCROLLING, KEEP SCROLLING, BECAUSE I AM….I’ll tell you what I am: sick of these sites. Just give me genuine value. Give me at least ONE additional page with some credibility. Show me pictures of your own cars, not the same cars you find on every other “free picture” site. Give it to me in a way that is pleasing to the eye and meaningful to read and has more than one page. Just for fun do a search on Google for the keyword “Make Money Now” Don’t click on any of the paid results because I just did, and before I knew it some person had with out my permission or clicking on anything engaged me in a live chat…whoa, how did they do that! Oh, crap now my computer says “Do you really want to close this site? If close this site, you may have just lost a million dollars! Oh no! WHAT DO I DO NEXT? Can somebody help me navigate this one page site?! Alt+F4.

The last time I checked my web compass, the Internet is; what I want when I want it, and when I get to your page engage me through solid design and excellent web copy. If you cant design a site, please don’t try! And no offense to your brothers, sisters friend, because he is still using front page too! Find an Agency or someone with some web design ability. Now that the site is laid out and pleasing to the eye, make sure the search engines get the right idea about what your site is all about. Sorry, they wont get it from one page, no matter how long or how bright and red the text is.

This is one of the reasons I like the “sponsored ads” less and less and Organic more and more. Because good site architecture and good design takes WORK. That’s right, work! Oh, I just lost you! I SAID, I JUST LOST YOU! BUT WAIT, Everything that is worthwhile takes work. I will do my best to find the best web sites and write about them — why I like them and why I don’t, after all that is why you are here. If you have some recommendations send them my way. But please don’t send me any one pagers!

Anecdotally, thanks Google. Chalk one up for quality score once more.

Stay tuned. Next up, best sites of the web — where and why!

I am going to watch some tunes!

I just learned about a new site called Mahalo.  I love Hawaii, and I like this concept.  I especially like that they are saying in essence “hey you big technology companies — we can do it better…vertically, and all with a human touch!”  I appreciate the little guy that says to Google, “oh yeah?”  Because isn’t that what Google said to Microsoft about 7 years ago?  Go Mahalo go!   I also appreciate that they bring the human element and blend it with technology - a tricky balance!   Time will tell if they can pull it off!

I have been in the search space for several years and here is my 2 cents — pros and cons.

Pros:

• Great idea — with some real future traction.
• I like the clean site design and layout — although the leaves, well they feel like….oh, I’ll save it for one of the cons below.
• Nice visuals, easy to navigate.
• Intuitive functionality
• Feels warm and fuzzy knowing that their are really people behind these results.
• User generated content.  Yes, they do have that — all you can eat.
• New extra relevant vertical advertising possibilities!
• You really will get delivered to a page that really says what it is about!
• Sorry click-arbitrage folks.

Cons:

• Scalability — the internet deals in billions, people deal in…well, much less than billions.
• Cool factor wears off?  What about Ms Dewey  That was a cool site for a minute.
• You only have one chance with most users.  Especially in an instant gratification world.  “Give me what I want, or I am gone!”
• Overall site feels like an ad in a Martha Stewart Magazine.
• Who really decides what are good sites?
• I will miss the funny sites who miraculously beat the search algorithms!

Lets face it — it is all about relevance.  If the user finds what they are looking for, then they will say “Thank you” Or as they say in Hawaii “Mahalo” and they will be back for more!  I like the cost of travel to this site much better!!  Hopefully they can provide the genuine feeling of “Aloha” again and again.

Will I set it as a book mark?  Yes, I think I will.

I would love to hear what you all think.