From Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox: “Users pay close attention to photos and other images that contain relevant information but ignore fluffy pictures used to “jazz up” Web pages.“ And he can prove it. Like many of Jakob Nielsen’s statements, it sounds absurdly obvious. So why do so many websites get it wrong? How many times have you seen websites using a … Read More
Conversion fraud – another AdWords thing that makes you go hmmm
As an Adwords Certified Partner, we spend a major chunk of our week handling client’s AdWords accounts. A part of our process involves looking for anything that stands out as unusual. Try this for unusual. One of our clients saw an unusual increase in conversions. As much as we’d like to think this was a direct result of our efforts, … Read More
AdWords customised date range options expanding?
Is it just me or has the list been getting longer? It’s a shame they don’t offer a “Last 28 days” option. I suppose that would be too useful.
I’m a software developer. What software should I write?
It’s a common question. Software developer leaves school or university and is great at churning out tight, functional, well-written code. Software developer doesn’t want to work for someone else, and likes the idea of running their own software company. But s/he doesn’t know what to write that will sell. They could start by following the wisdom of crowds through Google: … Read More
Question for the innovative: how do you make a splash big enough to be noticed in an ocean?
Forty-one years ago, my Mum was six months pregnant, and probably starting to get a little uncomfortable. A few months later I was born and turned my parent’s lives upside down. For a first child there’s a predictable pattern of shock, intense anxiety, the start of routines and then problem-solving. The problem-solving is endless. Perhaps, forty years ago, my Mum … Read More
Technology is no cure for stupidity
This was captured by my wife when she went to book tickets online for an event at the Royal Albert Hall. The team responsible for running the website and booking system clearly know that their server isn’t up to the task. So they’ve found a solution. I don’t know who first invented the numbered ticket queueing system loved by under-staffed … Read More
Certification and the futility of not selling out
Thought 1: Bodybuilding has always struck me as an odd activity. At a very basic level, it’s about people wanting to look good and feel good about themselves.? taken from wikipedia Most young (and not so young) men would be happy to look like that. But if the aspiring bodybuilder decides to take it to a more competitive level, odd poses, … Read More
WARNING: Health alert for Software Developers
There are many talented software developers in the world, and many people with great business skills. And while there are some lucky enough to be both, they are a tiny minority. Hence the number of great software products that never become great businesses. Software developers fall into the extreme-high-risk category of contracting Developer Syndrome. Although at first the symptoms may be … Read More
What happened to clarity? What happened to honesty?
I recently returned from the Business of Software Conference in Boston – the most interesting event I have ever attended. The hotel we were staying at, like many, is keen to jump on the Green bandwagon. Yet the card in my bathroom seemed to be lacking in clarity. Apologies for the image quality – this was taken with my BlackBerry. And … Read More
Seth Godin, Joel Spolsky and Dave Collins
Not a sentence I thought I would ever utter. Two of the people who have inspired, impressed and dazzled me most over the last few years.
