Social Networking, Technology, Web Content Management

Social Stream Aggregation Site – Cliqset July 16th, 2010

Like everyone else, I wanted to find a way to look at all of my friends’ online activities without having to surf between the myriad of different social sites. There are quite a few out there, but a recently updated Cliqset has caught my eye. It aggregates over 80 social services including Twitter, Facebook, Google Buzz, and of course YouTube (among many more!).

Insight Article, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, User Research

Improving the Health of the Healthcare Web July 12th, 2010

Healthcare organizations today face many challenges on both the mission and margin side of the house.  While grappling with the implications of the new healthcare legislation, many healthcare providers are trying to understand “meaningful-use” directives regarding Electronic Health Records (EHR) while simultaneously seeking systems that will streamline hospital-physician interactions and promote physician alignment and loyalty. Of course, ever-present are the demands for increasing customer acquisition and revenue generation, along with driving reductions in operating expenses, while providing enhanced levels of service to patients, families, and all levels of caregivers.

While many of the early visions of a fully digital healthcare economy are still to be realized, some health organizations are finding success in pursuing a small set of focused, tactical objectives rather than attempting more comprehensive and ambitious strategies sometimes characterized as “boil the ocean” approaches. The best results seem to follow when new Web-based applications / functionality are deployed carefully and incrementally in phases that are closely tied to the individual organization’s ability to metabolize such change.  This approach will certainly leave some important aspirations pushed out till much later on the timeline. However, it does streamline the crucial process of internal socialization necessary for adequate funding and broad-based institutional acceptance.

There are three Web tactics we see driving significant ROI for healthcare organizations. The first is focusing on demand-generation, or using the Web platform as a customer acquisition tool. The second tactic is focusing on patient retention through access to quality information and self-service convenience tools. And the third tactic focuses on using the Web as a platform to promote physician alignment and loyalty. If the appetite and urgency is sufficiently high, some healthcare organizations will move forward simultaneously with aspects of all three tactics.

Internet Strategy, Social Networking, User Experience Design

How to Get Familiar with the Principles of Web Design June 29th, 2010

Tune into Federal Tech Talk on 1500 AM radio at 11:00 AM EST, for an interview of Leo Mullen, CEO of NavigationArts, by host, John Gilroy. The topic is “How to Get Familiar with the Principles of Web Design.” Leo speaks to how the Web can be leveraged to engage citizens. The conversation also addresses the primary steps in building a Web site, the importance of user experience, social media, the power of mobile, search, and more.

Some highlights from the segment:

Social Networking

NavigationArts to Sponsor Web Managers Roundtable June 22nd, 2010

NavigationArts is sponsoring the Web Managers Roundtable event, Social Studies 301: Revealing the Myths & Management Strategies of Social Media.  The Event takes place on July 14th from 8:30 am to 11:15 am and features 4 distinguished speakers, guaranteed to be an interesting talk!  To request an invitation contact julie@justshowup.com and mention NavigationArts.

Internet Strategy, Social Networking

Own Your Social Presence June 15th, 2010

NavigationArts is sponsoring the HealthCare New Media conference in Chicago this week.  One of the major concerns faced by Healthcare marketers is getting their organizations to embrace (or even allow) a social media presence.  I am a huge proponent of asking the question “Why?” when thinking about social media.  Defining an appropriate strategy with measurable goals that meet business objectives is the key to success.  However, if you are a large organization such as a hospital, you already have a social media presence whether or not you know it or control it.

Social Networking, Technology

Peer Persuasion: Driving Your Business Without Driving You Crazy June 8th, 2010

For all the aspects of modern life that have been irrevocably changed by the digital tsunami, happily some of the crucial drivers of human behavior have remained stubbornly the same. We’re seeing lots of clients wrestling to understand dynamics that can incent certain audience segments to persuade peer groups to support ideas, activities, and commercial transactions. According to our friends at McKinsey & Company, “word-of-mouth is the primary factor behind 20%-50% of all purchasing decisions and is the only factor that ranks among the top three at every stage of the buying process.” They argue that the influence of word-of-mouth is most pronounced when consumers are buying for the first time or when the product /service is perceived to be a premium tier, expensive product.

Peer persuasion is another way of thinking about an activity that is frequently (mis)labeled word-of-mouth marketing. This term typically refers to consumer-to-consumer communications that have occurred with no exchange of economic incentives. More and more, the mouth has less and less to do with how such behavior is promoted. Web technologies have amplified and accelerated the power of such peer persuasion by shifting the model first from a one-to-one to a one-to-many, and more recently to a many-to-many model.  In this environment, the real or perceived strengths (or failings) of a product are posted on countless Web sites and blogs or disseminated through social networks with almost instantaneous impact, burnishing or bruising brands in the process.

Application Development, Social Networking, Usability

Creating a Successful Mobile Experience May 27th, 2010

NavigationArts sponsored the Web Content Maven’s Web to Mobile event last night, which will be the first in a series of talks on the topic.  With the proliferation of smart phones and the invention and success of the ipad, mobile is on the top of everyone’s minds right now.  But are we thinking about it in the right way?

Social Networking

Corporate Web Site Social Integration: Harnessing the Power of Consumer Conversation May 26th, 2010

Jeremiah Owyang, the highly reputable Web strategist with Altimeter Group was a keynote speaker at the Gilbane Conference in San Francisco last week. The focus of his presentation was how companies can make their corporate Web sites relevant by leveraging and integrating social networks.

Social Networking, Technology, Web Content Management

Web Engagement Management: Crowdsourcing for Businesses May 12th, 2010

I recently blogged about “Web Experience Management” tools being offered by Fatwire’s new CMS feature sets and wanted to extend the concept to the Web as a whole. It seems that Fatwire is keeping up with the industries latest trend, Web Engagement Management (WEM).

Social Networking, Technology, User Research

Design Research Conference 2010: Day 1 May 11th, 2010

Two years ago I attended the IIT Institute of Design’s Design Research Conference and I had such a great experience learning from and meeting fellow researchers that I had to come back and see what new research methods are in the mix now.

I just finished up a workshop this afternoon with Martha Cotton of gravitytank called Self-documentation 2.0.  Technology is now becoming more portable, smaller and an even bigger part of our everyday lives (especially with social networking sites).  So how do we utilize these tools to gather data from participants in conducting our research?

Application Development, Social Networking, Technology, Web Content Management

Web Experience Management May 5th, 2010

Having worked heavily with the Open Market’s Content Server at another organization (prior and during its transition to FatWire), I was a bit dismayed to hear FatWire rushing to be at the head of the Social stampede.  Often this type of feature set is designed to be able to check off a box on an evaluators checklist, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in this instance.  I’ve yet to play with it first hand, but the offering seems to be a one-stop-shop should your site need an integrated social solution.

Information Architecture, Insight Article, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Technology, Usability, Web Content Management

Digital Consolidation : Growing Urgency to Rationalize the Business Web May 3rd, 2010

When I pose the question “What’s keeping you up at night?” anywhere in the C-Suite these days, the conversation inevitably turns to issues of measuring and managing their extended Web enterprise.  In all sectors of business, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies, the Web has rapidly and thoroughly become the undisputed platform for communications, commerce, and community building.  But while many execs celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that has blossomed in their respective organizations around the Web, the proliferation of sites, applications, microsites, tools, widgets, and social media connections has confounded many user segments and placed growing strain on the ability of organizations to manage this distended organism.  Of course, it has also greatly complicated the challenge of extracting meaningful performance metrics from this platform which could indicate how cost effectively (or not) the organization’s business needs are being supported online.

As we dive into the depths of some of these large enterprises, we see symptoms of unplanned and unconstrained organic growth.  The benefits of time-to-market advantage are obvious, but the risks less so. I’m reminded of a comment made to me by Dr. Max Coppes, Head of Oncology at Children’s National Medical Center; he said, “Growth for the sake of growth is the philosophy of a cancer cell.”  That’s hardly the analog we’d hope for when inventorying a business Web enterprise.  But in many offices the idea still prevails that “If I can build it, I should build it.”  So as we watch organizations innovate, add new product lines, and expand their global markets, we see their technologies and business processes proliferate, and any vestiges of coherent discipline seem to vanish in that euphoria of growth.

Application Development, Social Networking, Web Content Management, Web Development, ASP.NET, Microsoft, Social Networking, twitter

Sitecore Dreamcore 2010 Conference: Part One April 28th, 2010

Last week two colleagues and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the North America Sitecore Dreamcore 2010 Conference in Boston. The volume of information and quality of speakers was astounding, so it’s going to take a little while to digest and distill it into something that can be managed and talked about easily.

The Sitecore management team literally braved the elements and an angry planet (referring to volcanoes and such) to get to Boston, so kudos to the whole team are in order.

Out of the shoot considering the “live” nature of a lot of conferences these days I thought it would be interesting to share some links and tips that surfaced during the conference from around the Web.

Social Networking

Honolulu Civil Beat: A New Approach to Journalism April 27th, 2010

I heard an interview on NPR last week with Pierre Omidyar regarding a news site, the Honolulu Civil Beat. What caught my ear was that it is a news site that was charging for content, yet no one had heard of this site before. It didn’t have an established audience… how was it going to generate one when the content needs to be paid for? Omidyar said on the radio that the site has no new technology, nothing that is going to change the Web. Again what do they have to offer then?

“Any time you join between now and May 4, you would pay $4.99,” Temple said. Thereafter, membership and renewal will cost $19.99 a month. Nonmembers will have limited access and will be unable to post content, he said.

Social Networking

Tweet or Be Taught April 19th, 2010

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published a fascinating article on tweeting in the college classroom, and it’s not what you might expect.  Professor Sugato Chakravarty of Purdue University actually encourages his roughly 250 lecture course students to tweet something to the rest of the class during his lecture.  And about 75 per cent of his students regularly do.

Information Architecture, Social Networking, Usability, User Experience Design

IA Summit ’10 Part One April 9th, 2010

With a few minutes to spare before boarding my flight to Phoenix I thought I’d kick-off my blog coverage of IA Summit 10. A small contingent of NavigationArts Information Architects / User Experience Designers will once again have the opportunity to chat with our peers, as well as share impressions of the current state of the discipline and where it’s going.

Sitting at the airport, heading to this conference, made me think: just to get this far I’ve already interacted with several interfaces designed by my peers…and in doing so I have seen the successes and pitfalls of how they’ve crafted their online processes:

Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Video

It’s Time. You Can’t Ignore the Power of Online Video Any Longer. April 8th, 2010

Owl Image: An example of a successful online campaign, requesting users to create and upload a music video for the artist, Moby. Please watch and vote for a fellow NavigationArts' contractor!

The Power of Online Video

I’ve been repeating this mantra for the past 2 years with ever increasing strength: “Video. Video. Video.” If your organization is looking for a better way to communicate a message, reach a broader audience, increase relevancy to a brand, or simply update your Web site with modern content, video can help.

Not yet convinced? Let me share some stats.

Social Networking

Changing Online Shopping Habits February 11th, 2010

In the last couple of months, I’ve noticed that my online shopping habits have changed. Oh, I still shop online as much as ever, and look for benchmark prices or availability of certain items before I head to an actual store. No…that’s not what’s changed. I’ve noticed that I’m doing more research before I actually select the item I want to purchase. And by research, I mean read user reviews about products and services before I commit to purchasing something. 

Social Networking, mobile, Social Networking

Fundraising through Social Networking and Mobile Texts February 1st, 2010

With the latest crisis in Haiti, social networking sites and mobile texts have been key in raising funds quickly. In one day, the Red Cross received over 3 million dollars (out of $10M total) through texts and social media alone.  Fundraising through mobile texts has simplified the user experience because now users don’t have to worry about getting out their credit cards, or entering personal information.  They simply press a few numbers and letters.  Then they pass that information onto their friends through all their social networking sites and the next thing you know, millions of dollars have just been raised.

To read more, see the latest article on CNN.

Social Networking, twitter

The Power of Twitter January 22nd, 2010

Yes, I tweet.  And along with other social media I use, most of the benefits I have gained have been on the social/personal side. I have some followers, but there are more people that I follow (that sounds wrong, doesn’t it?).   I follow a mix of business and personal contacts.  I learn from some but mostly am amused by the tweets I receive and read. And until recently, Twitter has been more of a toy that I felt obligated to play with in order to keep up with everyone else.  I didn’t really get the power of twitter until two recent events – one involved a free meal, the other a tragic world event.

Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Online Content

To Pay or Not to Pay for Content Online January 15th, 2010

There seems to be a constant struggle for any one producing intellectual property — whether the content should be available for free or users should have to pay for it. In fact I am currently working on a project where we are recommending that our client give away some of their content for free. In the midst of studying how others are handling this issue, I came across  “Should You Pay to Read This?”

Social Networking, Facebook

User Choices – The Default January 12th, 2010

Facebook recently received some press related to how their members control their privacy settings. They recently added additional account settings that allow members to more selectively share personal information. Some view this as overdue functionality in light of the concerns about online privacy. These changes need to both satisfy the member’s needs and the business goals of Facebook. Facebook has a very strong financial incentive for the users to share as much personal information as possible. One way their business goals are not sacrificed is that even though they are giving more privacy controls, the default settings allow the user’s information to be shared the most. Some advocacy organizations are claiming that because of the initial privacy setting defaults and because of the apparent complexity of changing the user’s privacy settings, the users are not really in control of their privacy. On the surface this concern might seem frivolous, but there is a strong case to be made for how defaults and the number of choices can influence people’s behavior.

Information Architecture, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, twitter

Twitter in 2010 January 8th, 2010

I must admit I was amongst the skeptics who wondered about the usefulness of the 140 word microblog post. As one of my colleagues often says – “Why do I care to know if someone is headed to the bathroom?”

And then I read this recent article in the New York Times Why Twitter Will Endure that made me reconsider my thinking.

Application Development, Information Architecture, Interaction Design, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, User Experience Design, personas, prototype, scenarios, smithsonian, strategy

Smithsonian Commons: Vast, Findable, Shareable, Free December 3rd, 2009

Have you visited a Smithsonian website lately? Probably not. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even those we interviewed on the National Mall in Washington DC at a physical Smithsonian museum hadn’t considered using a Smithsonian website. It’s a shame, considering the rich education available on their numerous affiliated websites. Few also realize the tradition of excellent and influential research conducted by the Smithsonian. What a lost opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s greatest collections of history, culture, art and science.

Social Networking, Facebook, Flickr, Google, search, social media, Social Networking, twitter, youtube

Social Search: What Are My Friends Saying – Right Now? November 19th, 2009

Through social media, we’re becoming more and more connected than ever before. We’re sharing opinions, posting links that we find important, and holding conversations in social spaces. Many of us consider our friends and social networks as a primary source for information, and especially trust their opinion over a stranger’s. For example, if I become a fan of a company and join their group or if I give a restaurant a rating, my friends are likely to take note.

Social Networking

Twitter November 11th, 2009

The number of tweets a day has risen from 2.4 million in January to 26 million in October. It will be interesting to see what this turns into in terms of relevance and sustainability.

Application Development, Information Architecture, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Visual Design, Web Content Management, Web Development, Video

Professional Video Services for Businesses November 11th, 2009

An unlikely source for cutting edge technology news of course, but USA Today has an interesting article discussing the future of online video for businesses. They point out that video has a huge and critical future for most everyone doing business online these days, and there’s several major players coming in that exceed the offerings by such commonly known entities from YouTube and Vimeo.

Specifically, pay services targeted for businesses include:

Social Networking, Web Development, Messaging, Mozilla, Raindrop

Mozilla Raindrop Aims to Help Filter Signal from Noise October 27th, 2009

The Mozilla Labs team has announced that they’re working on a new project named Raindrop which aims to gather up the various messaging sources that people get input from (email, Twitter, messaging apps, etc.) and then filter them to only what’s directed at the actual user (eliminating spam, messages to other users, etc.).

Raindrop Demo and Explanation Video

Application Development, Social Networking, Web Content Management

ExpressionEngine – Beta Test V2! October 21st, 2009

It looks like Ellis Labs is about to enter into the second phase of its beta testing for its ExpressionEngine V2 offering. If you haven’t had a chance to learn about it, here’s your chance! Looks to be an exciting offering, sitting on the CodeIgniter framework (also developed by Ellis Labs).

Social Networking, Web Development

Web 2.0 Applications October 10th, 2009

Ever tried to keep up with all the differing Web 2.0 applications out there? Yeah, me either. But just in case you are trying, this blog has a set of them already collected for you.

Web 2.0 Applications

Application Development, Social Networking

Jive Talking to Microsoft – More to Come October 10th, 2009

With products like NewsGator already on the market and targeted directly at Microsoft’s SharePoint audience, Jive Software has introduced its newest module for its Social Business Software package.

This will enable users to collaborate in a social setting on data typically stored in a CMS. The first module will target Microsoft Sharepoint and the company has plans for a Documentum one as well. As this market place will only become more crowded, getting in early and getting it right are key.

Social Networking, Web Content Management, Web Development

Future of Content Management September 3rd, 2009

Julian Wrath has asked those of us interested in the world of CMS to comment on the “The Future of Content Management.” While I’d like to presume I know what the future will hold in that world, I’d like to express where I hope that it’s going.

Interaction Design, Social Networking, Usability, User Experience Design, Visual Design, Web Development

Audio and Video Standards in HTML5 July 1st, 2009

Ian Hickson on the HTML5 spec and why it will not contain language around what codec browsers should support for the <audio> and <video> tags (emphasis mine):

I have therefore removed the two subsections in the HTML5 spec in which codecs would have been required, and have instead left the matter undefined, as has in the past been done with other features like <img> and image formats, <embed> and plugin APIs, or Web fonts and font formats.

Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Internet Strategy, Social Networking, Web Content Mavens

Web Content Mavens October 23rd, 2008

Reggie Henry (CTO of ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership) led a terrific discussion at last night’s Web Content Mavens. The topic for the evening was how to sell social networking to senior executives.  I’ve listed the most valuable nuggets from the presentation and ensuing discussion.  Hopefully there’s something in this list that will help to shape your thinking around social networking as part of a web strategy.