You have heard it a thousand times and think you know what it means, but do you really? Throughout this modern age of technology, advancement, and the highly interactive internet, we have come to a crossroads where the definition of creating value has become increasingly complex. Numerous articles and publications have been written asking if current technology in new devices actually make our lives easier or provide value to the end user. In my opinion, the answer is; if the user and greater masses truly believe certain devices or tools provide them with an increase in value and utility, it holds true that they do. This argument sequence c...

Web design has come a long way over the past 5 years. With the emergence of new technologies, more bandwidth, and faster browsers, designers have had opportunities they have never had before. The emergence of new programming mediums such as video streaming, flash, silverlight, and CSS technologies have opened up new design initiatives across all web portals. With new opportunity come more c...

To fully understand the psychology behind any website you must begin with the perspective of the user. Know who uses your site and understand how they perceive it. However, before you begin to understand who your users are, you must truly understand the mentality of searchers who are utilizing search engines to find yo...

The key to creating a valuable website is to properly convey that value and expertise to users. If a user finds an immediate value in your website, they will use it, link to it, tell friends about it, and most importantly, come back to use it again. It is important that once a user steps onto your site, they are very clear exactly what you...

If your website leans towards e-commerce or drives revenue through various subscription models, the art of cross selling and up selling will ring especially important for you. We call these methodologies an art, because achieving a balance between educating users on options vs. coming across as a pushy sales site is not an easy one to attain. It is important that your users feel like they are making an informed decision through knowing their opportunity cost, but you do not want to confuse or drive them towards prolonged research or analysis. Keep them focused on the transaction, do not shift their intention towards an informational visit....

With the increase in online web mediums it has become progressively more important to create a powerful mobile presence. More and more users are relying on their cell phones and other hand-held devices for internet access, so catering to these users has now become a top priority for many web companies. As designers begin to choose how they would l...

In light of some recent experiences, I thought it valuable to explain some of the trials and tribulations, and eventual success of simplifying website forms. I have been advising on the format, presentation, structure, and technology used in a signup form for a major internet company with the sole purpose of increasing registration conversions. They are current...

Building a well known, trusted, and dependable brand is a complex process that requires strategy from the very beginning. It is a persistent process that can go well beyond the interactions of a website and penetrates the thoughts and perceptions of user’s everyday lives. It is what people remember when they have the need for your services and what keeps repeat customers relying upon you. When examining the broader picture of culture (specifically American/Western Culture), we see a permeation of brand suggestion and brand advertising in almost every aspect of our daily routine. The Colgate toothpaste we brush with, the clothes we wear, ...

The homepage of a website is crucial in properly portraying the emotion and overall impression the designer wishes to impart on the user. The homepage is the most highly trafficked page of almost any website and must incorporate a number of diverse design features to effectively demonstrate value. A homepage has no limit as far as len...

The initial stages of the design process involve a plethora of ideas, motifs, layouts, and overall project blueprints that will decide the look and feel of the site to come. When organizing the ideas and requests of the websites owner (in some cases that may be you), it is important to fully understand the theme which they wish to portray to the end user. One of the more important aspects of...