tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9 2010-05-07T00:58:37Z Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2275 2010-05-07T00:58:37Z 2010-05-07T00:58:37Z

14 tips for Twitter contests that build followers and brand visibility...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com 14 tips for Twitter contests that build followers and brand visibility]]> Deconstructing a Threadless twitter contest to learn from it. Great ideas for Twitter contests. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2274 2010-05-07T00:55:21Z 2010-05-07T00:55:21Z

How to Turn Humdrum Photos into Cinematic Portraits...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com How to Turn Humdrum Photos into Cinematic Portraits ]]> Yes, I know the style is overdone but it has many techniques in here that are very useful for more stylized portraits. Until it starts looking "so 2009", anyway. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2273 2010-05-06T12:37:23Z 2010-05-06T12:37:23Z

Did Your Boss Thank You For Coding Yourself to Death?...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Did Your Boss Thank You For Coding Yourself to Death? ]]> Fantastic quote: "I can see the necessity of occasionally putting in some extra effort and burning the midnight oil at work for a day or two. But when "occasionally" turns to "often", when your boss stops thanking you profusely for your efforts and just treats it as norm, this is when we're all in trouble. It sets bad expectations, not just for you, for the whole industry." tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2272 2010-04-29T16:52:45Z 2010-04-29T16:58:46Z

10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know]]> today's tweet, a good once-over for those who actually still want their information and interactions to be private. Which apparently makes us quaint, mondo adorable (do people still say mondo?) dinosaurs with no real understanding of how the intertubes work. Mmmmkay, but I'd still rather keep some things just between myself & friends, y'know? Is it really just me? Am I a dinosaur? Your thoughts welcome.]]> tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2268 2010-04-12T17:41:09Z 2010-04-12T17:41:09Z

Best User Interface Design Resources...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Best User Interface Design Resources ]]> B&A in there which hasn't updated since January (why?) but there are some must-haves, some new-to-mes and some cool apps listed in there as well. Kuler rocks. Some questionable choices, though - Twitter? An uneven list but some gold to mine.]]> tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2267 2010-04-12T16:34:55Z 2010-04-12T16:34:55Z

Web Standards for E-books...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Web Standards for E-books ]]> The indefatigable Joe Clark takes on the concepts of HTML, HTML5, and e-book publishing's future. I tend to agree with his basic premise: that HTML, for all its shortcomings, is quite simply the format for delivering text, transforming text, and distributing text that continues to win out all others. And it, of course, is why I continue to be in love with Berners-Lee. He made my job, my life, possible. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2266 2010-04-12T13:45:46Z 2010-04-12T13:45:46Z

How to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment: 10 No-Brainers...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com How to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment: 10 No-Brainers]]> Why is it when you compile a list of such seemingly obvious and innocuous methods to increase conversions, you suddenly realize just how many retailers don't follow these practices? The statistic: "23% of shoppers will abandon when asked to register before checking out." I've heard that a million times before, yet how many sites allow guest checkout, or even better - allows the user to register MUCH LATER in the checkout process? And persistent shopping carts are, IMO, a must-have; it's horrifying how many retailers fail to implement them. I've personally changed my mind on dozens of products because two days later when I went back to finish the sale, my cart was empty. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2264 2010-04-09T11:34:34Z 2010-04-09T11:34:34Z

Inline Validation: Can It Improve Conversion?...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Inline Validation: Can It Improve Conversion? ]]> Such a simple thing to make such a marked improvement. Behooves us all to remember that sometimes the Big Hairy solution isn't the thing that will make the user's experience - and conversions, by extension - better. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2263 2010-04-07T23:31:20Z 2010-04-07T23:31:20Z

Driven to Distraction...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Driven to Distraction ]]> "A month isn't 30 days. It's 30 todays." Liked that quote. I also liked the idea of getting rid of WE. And I've always loved the Don't Worry About Your Competition rule - it's one of the best to ensure you're innovating, not following. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2262 2010-04-07T20:52:20Z 2010-04-07T20:52:20Z

Warren Ellis on space travel...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Warren Ellis on space travel]]> Robb.]]> tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2261 2010-04-06T00:56:51Z 2010-04-06T00:56:51Z

Log usability tests like a pro...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Log usability tests like a pro ]]> Brilliant solution to a usability test shorthand that lets you actually find a way to manage the data coming in, stay focused, and produce a very quick report (and beginnings of a bug fix list!) afterwards. With samples - always a nice extra. tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2260 2010-03-30T22:59:00Z 2010-03-30T22:59:00Z

Marketing: Social Media vs Banner Advertising...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Marketing: Social Media vs Banner Advertising ]]> best irrelevant (would you ever put any OTHER kind of irrelevant content on your web site? No? Then why devote so much ad space to it?) and at worst detracting from the content you've spent so much time creating. Hello? Common sense.]]> tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2259 2010-03-30T22:44:36Z 2010-03-30T22:44:36Z

Are You Willing To Strike Out?...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Are You Willing To Strike Out? ]]> Loved this line: "Most people want to hit home runs, the problem is they are afraid to fail in order to get there. As Babe Ruth proved, you can't have one without the other. " tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2258 2010-03-30T14:41:06Z 2010-03-30T14:41:06Z

Packrati.us = Twitter + Delicious...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Packrati.us = Twitter + Delicious ]]> That's just brilliant. Packrati trolls your Twitter feed and, when you post a link, it will automatically enter it into your Delicious account. It will even explode out snipped URLs (owly, bitly etc) to the end link and convert hashes into tags. Nice! tag:www.angiemckaig.com,2010:/links//9.2256 2010-03-29T23:10:21Z 2010-03-29T23:10:21Z

Information Architects Are From Venus, SEOs Are From Mars...

Angie http://www.angiemckaig.com Information Architects Are From Venus, SEOs Are From Mars ]]> Given how many companies I've consulted with whose SEO-firm approved IAs were truly heinous, I'd have to agree. No, I don't think every SEO firm makes for a bad web site. But all too often getting #1 on Google supercedes - often to an incredibly damaging extent - the web site's ability to provide findable information and utility for its readers/users. As I've said a million times to clients, what GOOD is a #1 web site on Google if your potential customers/readers/clients can't find what they're looking for?