Content Usability: Writing without Words (October 2007)

Communicating effectively on the Web is an exercise in conveying information with few words. Jakob Nielsen gives advice on creating effective intro copy in his latest column, Blah Blah Text. The key to a good intro on the Web? "Kill the welcome mat, cut to the chase." Set context by saying what a page or section is and why it's useful. Then let the real content take center stage.

Web Redesign Projects (September 2007)

We are using our repeatable, user-focused methodology to guide Web redesigns for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), and Applied Knowledge Group, a Microsoft Gold Partner.

Web Users Have No Time for You (August 2007)

Don't take it personally, but Web users don't want to spend much time on your site. They just want to find what they need, quickly and easily. Translation: The success of your site depends heavily on its usability, accessibility, and information value.

According to new data from the Nielsen Norman Group, the average user visiting a new Web site spends only 30 seconds on the homepage and a total of 4 minutes on the site. If users abandon the site, they stay an average of only 2 minutes. You don't have much time to prove the value of your site.

For more hard, cold, research-based truths, read Feature Richness and User Engagement on www.useit.com.

For help making your site more effective and usable, write us at info@olkincommunications.com or call 571-643-6020.

New Partner: Eiffelfish Design (August 2007)

What is an eiffelfish? We have no idea. What we do know is that our new Web design partner creates wicked cool and sophisticated Web designs. Check them out at www.eiffelfish.com.

How We Do That Voo Doo . . . (August 2007)

We have added new visual samples of our work to articles on two of our most popular services, Usability Testing and Analysis and Information Architecture/Taxonomy. Take a look, and let us know if we can provide any other graphic evidence of that voo doo that we do, you know, so well.

American Gas Association Web Site Launches (July 2007)

Olkin Communications Consulting rearchitected the new AGA Web site, launched in late June. The new information architecture was based on a detailed analysis of AGA's external and internal Web user audiences and AGA's corporate communication goals. Click to read a case study of the AGA project.

Web Redesign for Applied Knowledge Group (July 2007)

We have kicked off a Web reorganization and redesign on behalf of Applied Knowledge Group, a Microsoft Gold Partner specializing in SharePoint adoption and implementation.

We are providing audience analysis, user experience concept development, content management consulting, information architecture, and usability services in this project.

New Partner: American Technology Services (June 2007)

Meet our newest technology partner, American Technology Services (ATS). Their credentials are impressive, but we particularly appreciate their dedication to usability, high-quality design, and customer service. For more information about ATS, see our Partners page or visit www.networkats.com.

New Article: Social Networking Means Business for Member-Focused Organizations (June 2007)

Read our article about how professional organizations benefit from online social networking. We thank Capture Video for publishing the article on their Web site. Capture Video provides creative services and production.

Location Not Meaningful in Usability Studies (June 2007)

Jakob Nielsen has confirmed what we have long suspected: The geographic location of participants has no significant effect on usability study results. Nielsen's research findings mean it is not necessary to consider geographic distribution when assembling a roster of test participants, unless there is a compelling business reason to involve users from specific locations.

Nielsen Says Breadcrumbs Tasty (May 2007)

Breadcrumbs, the "trackback" trails that show where a user is in the hierarchy of a Web site, are becoming more widely used and expected by Web users, according to a recent Alertbox column by Jakob Nielsen. The cost-to-benefit ratio of breadcrumbs is deemed to be low, because breadcrumbs are easily rendered and take up relatively little space in a user interface.

Jakob Nielsen Counsels: Don't Forget Usability Principles in Web 2.0 Sites (May 2007)

In a BBC Online article, usability guru and Nielsen Norman Group cofounder Jakob Nielsen says designers of many Web 2.0 sites are so focused on the powerful toolset, they neglect basic principles of usability design and important design steps such as usability testing. Read and take heed!

Usability ROI for Nonprofit, Government Sites (March 2007)

Jakob Nielsen, usability expert, has published a new column on usability ROI. The column shows how following usability guidelines can help noncommercial sites reap measurable, monetary benefits.

Are You Web 2.0? (March 2007)

The second-generation Internet (a.k.a., Web 2.0) is the Internet of, by, and for the people. Want to know if your Web site has ventured into the Web 2.0 "You-niverse"? Visit the "Web 2.0 Validator" and enter your Web site address. Enjoy!

http://web2.0validator.com

Welcome to Web 2.0 (January 2007)

Time magazine declared "You" the "Person of the Year" in 2006, recognizing the role millions of ordinary computer users played in transforming the Internet from a publishing platform to a collectively owned forum for dialogue and exchange.

2007 is the time for your business to reap the benefits of this marketplace by giving your customers and members the online experience they have come to expect:

• Provide better service through greater interactivity.
• Tailor information to your clients' and members' individual needs and preferences.
• Help members and customers connect easily with each other and with you.
• Focus on usability to make sure that all services and information you provide are understandable and accessible to their intended audiences.

We look forward to supporting your success in the second generation of the Internet.

Into the New Year with New Clients (January 2007)

We were pleased to welcome the following new clients in December 2006:

Projects for these clients include information architecture and taxonomy, usability analysis and testing, Web site evaluation, and content management training.

Marketing Article Published in Smart Business Ideas Magazine

Our article on marketing communications appeared in the January issue of Smart Business Ideas magazine (www.sbimag.com). Click to launch a PDF of the magazine (see p. 24): www.sbimag.com/admin/magazines/Pdf/Jan_07.pdf