News from Olkin Communications Consulting (Feb. 2007)

Olkin Communications Consulting is pleased to update you on events and endeavors in communications and Web usability. To be added to our newsletter mailing list, e-mail us at info@olkincommunications.com.

In This Issue:

• Technology: Useful is the new cool
• Trends from 10 Best Intranets of 2007
• Virtually working, or working virtually?
• Recruiting added to suite of services
• More new clients discover our charms and talents
• Our marcom tips in glossy business mag
• We enjoy judging others
• A shameless pitch

Technology: Useful Is the New Cool

We just attended an association technology conference. In an otherwise helpful discussion on effective Web sites, the following statement appeared on a presenter's slide:

"Interactivity gives the user something to do."

As user advocates in technology projects, we were ruffled. Most people who use professional organizations' Web sites are plenty busy already. They don't need to be given "something to do," they should be assisted in doing what they came to the Web site to do. Interactive features can be very helpful in this regard, if applied strategically.

The presenter's statement was not surprising. In every market, we see companies using various kinds of technologies, from Flash to Java to blogs, just because they can, not because these technologies fulfill a user need or achieve a strategic aim of the organization.

There are lots of new technologies out there. Don't be seduced by them just because they are cool. Figure out whether and how they fit in with your strategic goals and how they will benefit your constituent audiences. Then you can judge how cool and worthwhile they are in your business context, and which solution is right for you.

And speaking of not doing things just because you can, we bring you the 2007 "Bad Usability Calendar," a year's worth of cool technology and design innovations applied in useless ways. Enjoy, and take heed!

http://www.iallenkelhet.no/bad-usability-calendar-2007-is-here

Intranet Trends from Best-Of Competition

Each year, Nielsen Norman Group, the esteemed usability research and consulting company, selects the world's 10 best intranets. They identified some interesting characteristics among the best of 2007:

• more standardization of navigation bars, menus, and page footers
• an average age of 7.5 years old (that's ancient compared to Web sites, which tend to be redesigned every 2 to 3 years)
• restrained, sensible use of hyped Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and wikis
• intranets were most frequently owned by Corporate Communications (33%), IT (27%), and Human Resources (19%)

For more on the 10 Best Intranets of 2007, go to www.useit.com, one of the ugliest and most usable sites we've ever seen.

Online Collaboration Makes Association Committee Work Quicker and Cheaper

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) relies on national committees to develop its standards for advanced teacher certification. In the past, standards development took two years and multiple in-person meetings. That's a lot of time and travel expenses.

Olkin Communications Consulting is helping NBPTS implement online collaboration for its standards committees, allowing them to work remotely, faster, and at less expense. After gathering business requirements, we helped NBPTS implement Microsoft SharePoint for online collaboration. The first committee started using its new "team site" in December, and more committees will adopt online collaboration soon.

Could your organization or committees benefit from online collaboration or a more usable intranet? Contact us at info@olkincommunications.com.

Recruiting Added to Suite of Services

Olkin Communications Consulting has added recruiting to our suite of services. Our background in publishing and Web communications and the expertise of our executive recruiter enable us to define the skill set and experience you need, locate and screen candidates, and find the right person for the job, quickly and efficiently.

We recently located a Web project manager for a national association in only four days. We would love to break that record helping fill your hiring need. Contact us at info@olkincommunications.com.

New Client Roundup

We are pleased to welcome the American Society of Interior Designers, Applied Knowledge Group, StreamCenter, and World Vision (served through our technology partner, Evolvent) as new clients. We are also pleased to expand our work for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

For a full client list, visit the Clients section of our Web site: www.olkincommunications.com/clients.htm.

Marketing Article Published in Smart Business Ideas Magazine

Smart Business Ideas magazine featured our article "Communicating Value with Every Contact" in its January issue. The article gives pointers for developing valuable marketing communications. Read the article at http://www.sbimag.com/browse_article.php?id=621&catid=22 or find it at www.sbimag.com in the marketing archives; keyword: value or Olkin.

Judging a Life-and-Death Competition

We recently judged a competition for the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association (ICCFA). The competition honors the industry's most personalized service, products, and events. The entries showed what it means to be customer-focused in an industry that serves clients at some of the most difficult times in their lives.

We may not all serve clients who are dealing with life-and-death issues, but we could treat our customers and prospects as though their needs and concerns were that important to us.