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The Holistic Approach to Web Design Benefits Search Engine and Directory Submissions and Users  

:: Monday, March 15, 2004 ::

The Holistic Approach to Web Design Benefits Search Engine and Directory Submissions and Users

Did you know that DMOZ (Open Directory Project) is owned by Netscape? How many ODP Editors do you think are reviewing your website using Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser? Since most websites render well in MSIE, to fully understand how well built and cross browser compatible they are, what types of browsers are used to test them? As a reviewer seeking quality content for any website Directory, when presented with two websites on the same subject, which one would you choose?

Is it the one that renders well on all types of browsers, loads fast, and whose homepage meets usability and accessbility standards or is it the version built for only MSIE users with 20/20 vision with high-speed Internet access?

At Cre8asiteForums, these questions are addressed in the DMOZ forum, in the topic called Cross-browser compatibility
     "So if your site is designed purely for IE and does not function properly in other browsers, there is a risk that the editor who reviews it may conclude that it is not working and so not list it."

Gaining the trust of ANYONE looking at your website, especially for the first time, is vitally important. It helps to understand who your website users are by creating user personas. It's also imperative you establish authority, credibiliy and find ways to impress on your visitors, and especially potential customers, that you, your company and your website can be trusted. People learned more about this in It's a Matter of Trust
     "One of the usability tests involved asking users to buy a product online. I noticed that though several sites had low prices for the product, most users chose a site that they had heard of before, to buy the product. I even had one user who went to the manufacturer's site and checked out the lists of all the authorized distributors. He then chose to buy from one of these listed distributors."

     "Usability = trust. Wow, the case for usability gets stronger by the minute!!!"

     "The emotional aspect is very much a part of overall usability. Trust factors into this feeling."

     "If I had to name only one, for me it's knowing the people who are behind the website. That means being able to relate to them as people."

Search Engine Optimization and Marketing:

Should services be guaranteed? Yes, says the writer of SEO help wanted
     "I have been through the sales spiel of several SEO "firms", not one of which could guarantee final results.. Its seems logical to me that pay should be for performance, the more you provide, the more you get paid...."

     "Every now and again search engines change their algorithms. Google in particular is promising to do that with greater frequency this year quite deliberately to throw off any SEOs who manage to have any 'formula' approach."

     "This is so easy anyone with a working knowledge of SE algorithms can put me at the top."

Usability:

Jakob Nielsen on his wife's BMW (and other usability points to ponder). Why Consumer Products Have Inferior User Experience
     "No amount of advertising can leave as strong an impression as a sustained user experience with a shabby product. "

Bah! MSN User Personas. I'm Not Buying It
     "Any woman nursing her newborn and IM'ng at the same time will give user testing a run for their money. How many software developers are thinking of them?"

:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 3/15/2004 11:45:54 AM

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