July 22, 2004
Gourmet Branding
Kudos to GE on their recent re-branding. Take a look at their "brand guidelines" site as a model for comprehensive branding strategy. http://www.ge.com/brand/
ROI Is Not a Silver Bullet
Scott Hirsch, with Adaptive Path, has an excellent article entitled, "ROI Is Not a Silver Bullet: Five Actionable Steps for Valuing User Experience Design." I found the points he revealed to be extremely effective in making the case for useful measurements that calculate benefits, aside from the routine ROI analysis.
So many times financial departments have a hard time justifying design and user experience improvements because the ROI numbers just don't match up. These recommended steps help to alleviate those concerns by offering clear and concise ideas for keeping investment dollars flowing into end-user designs.
A brief glance at the steps:
1. Get an Understanding of Business Value
2. Look for Quick Wins
3. Determine the User Behaviors and Measure Baseline Data
4. Measure Outcomes Post-launch
5. Evangelize Success
For an extended look into these strategies click here.
July 21, 2004
Geek Stuff Alert!
For Tech Heads Only: The replacement for the old TCP/IP addressing system is ready to roll out, creating trillions and trillions of new possible addresses. They're calling it IPv6.
Read all about it, here.
July 20, 2004
Super Funny
The second installment of the super funny Superman/Jerry Seinfeld serial is up here...
iPod Revised
In an attempt to battle under-cutting rivals, Apple Computer is introducing an improved version of its iPod series.
Via Wired News:
Apple said the new model iPod has up to 12 hours of battery life, compared with eight hours in previous models. Poor battery performance in some iPods has drawn criticism.The 20-GB model, which can hold about 5,000 songs, has a list price of $299, lower than the previous price of $399 for a 20-GB iPod. The 40-GB model costs $399.
Full Article: http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64269,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_5
July 19, 2004
E-Commerce Strategies
If your e-commerce site is not utilizing upselling and cross-selling strategies then you are more than likey leaving revenues on the table. Studies have proven the power of cross promotion when it comes to shopping online. For a great how-to on creating an upsell/cross-sell strategy check out this article.
Mail Boosts the Web
A recent study by ComScore revealed that: "recipients of catalogs and direct mail efforts are more likely to visit the mailer's Web site and make a purchase than if no promotion is sent."
In other words, even if your sales strategy is centered on the Internet, it still pays to mail. See the whole article here...
Study: Direct Mail Boosts Online Traffic, Sales
By Hallie Mummert, editor in chief, Target Marketing and Inside Direct Mail
According to a recent study conducted by research firm comScore Networks Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, recipients of catalogs and direct mail efforts are more likely to visit the mailer's Web site and make a purchase than if no promotion is sent.
Findings in "The Multichannel Catalog Study" show that 15 percent of people who receive a catalog and then go online to visit the sender's Web site make a purchase. Equally encouraging is that 13 percent of consumers who receive a non-catalog direct mail piece and visit the sender's Web site also place an order. Both statistics suggest the power of using print materials to drive online traffic and sales.
In other study findings, catalog recipients were discovered to make 16 percent more site visits, view 22 percent more Web pages and spend 15 percent more time on a site than consumers who didn't receive catalog promotions. Also, a company's existing customers were 33 percent more likely to buy from the firm's Web site after receiving a catalog than prospects.
ComScore surveyed online visitors to 40 retail Web sites in categories that include apparel, department store, home and garden, consumer electronics, and computer hardware and software. The research firm collected more than 6,400 responses to questions about shoppers' buying behaviors and observed the online behavior of more than 1 million U.S. consumers to identify Web traffic and shopping patterns.
For more survey findings and a topline report on "The Multichannel Catalog Study," visit www.usps.com/directmail.
This is Delicious!
I was talking to our favorite Egyptian television celebrity the other day and she was telling me that she is getting lots of reports from the Middle East about Musilims flocking to see "The Passion of The Christ" because of all the (false) charges in the U.S. media about it being anti-Semitic.
In other words, thousands of Muslims, hoping to see some good Jew-bashing, are being exposed to the gospel instead. The NRB confirms here...
Muslims Viewing The Passion in Record Numbers
Publishers of the somewhat controversial Tel Aviv-based Christian magazine MaozIsrael report that many are not hearing about what the film The Passion of the Christ is doing in Arab countries. "We keep receiving reports from Christians in various countries that The Passion is reaching into the Muslim world with the Gospel, unprecedented in the history of Islam," stated Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram. The film reportedly has been drawing large audiences in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. A Qatar newspaper reported that the film sold 66,321 tickets in its first three days there, reaching slightly less than one out of 10 of its citizens. The Rams state that Arabs are deeply moved by the suffering of Christ and the film is working as a powerful evangelical tool in the Arab world. The film is helping them to "...believe in their hearts that Yeshua died for their sins." For more information, log on to www.maozisrael.org.
July 18, 2004
Great Cartoon
Check out this nice political cartoon from a recent New York Post...
July 08, 2004
Reich: Christians, not Terrorists, are the Real Problem
According to President Clinton's former Labor Secretary, Christians and other theists pose a greater danger to civilization than terrorist.
Check out this astonishing excerpt from Robert Reich?s recent article in American Prospect...
The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. Terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives. But terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face. (Whole essay here.)
Then check out this response by National Review?s Ramesh Ponnuru
Convenience Fee
Working in the Internet industry I am always proud of organizations that embrace the Internet and use it to better the people's lives that they serve.
[Insert Rant Here]
Well, I received my annual Texas vehicle registration reminder in the mail yesterday. This year I noticed that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) is really pushing people to renew online. TxDoT gave me three options to renew my registration; I could renew in person, do it online, or simply mail it in.
Here was the catch (and the reason for this fume); if I were to mail the renewal or appear in person it wouldn't cost me anything (save my precious personal time). However, if I want to renew online there is a $2.00 "Convenience Fee"!
I know what you are thinking, big deal Brent, $2.00. Are you really that much of a tightwad? The answer is it isn't so much the $2.00 as it is the principle of TxDoT charging extra for something that makes processing easier on everyone...including them.
Maybe I am over-reacting. I would love to hear feedback on whether or not you think this is a good or bad move by TxDoT (or for that matter if any organization should charge a "Convenience Fee").
[End Rant]
Stop the Insanity!
I was always under the impression that only a rare few knuckle-heads ever purchased anything from emails containing subject lines like 'V | i | A | g | R | A' or 'male_enhncement prodcts sqkoiqnecfn'. But judging from the iMedia article I read this morning 1 out of every 5 people admit to having purchased a product from a spammer. On top of that, one-third of Americans continue to respond to spam messages, perpetuating the problem.
Seriously people, spam is not going to decrease if you keep buying the products that the spammers are peddling. In fact as long as people respond to the messages it will only get worse.
The research from the article was conducted by Yahoo! and includes responses from 37,000 users in eleven different countries. You can read the full article here: http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/3774.asp
July 07, 2004
Say It Ain't So!
Media analyst says Tivo will be out of business in 12-18 months if they don't get their act together.
Note: You can have my Tivo when you pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Pour Me Another Cup of Coffee
Great news for all of us here in the H|S Hangar. Coffee is good for you. So says this posting about a recent article in the Chicago Tribune.
The money quote...
"Though the virtues of coffee drinking may have been debated in the past, now there appear to be new reasons to rejoice over java. More and more studies have linked coffee consumption to a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, gallstones, colon cancer and potentially heart disease."
July 06, 2004
Wi-Fi on the Range
Wireless Internet capabilities are constantly expanding and becoming more and more accessible. Here is a good AP article about the current Wi-Fi trend.
Keep that wireless movin'. YAW!
July 01, 2004
Mr. Picasso Head?
Check out this time-waster, when you have a little time to waste! A truly great use of the Web.