http://mindspringdesign.com/blog Wesite & Graphics Advice for Small Businesses Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:47:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So everyone's heard -- Consumer Reports says that the new iPhone is badly designed causing weak signals and dropped calls. As a left-handed person, I was shocked that lefties were told they were holding the phone wrong. Jobs cleaned it up soon after, but here is a good example of ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/the-cost-of-poor-usability/ RANT: Web sites and interfaces in general should clearly and easily draw people to where they want to go. Offer people too many choices, and they can't make a decision. Perfect case in point: Even though I love my HTC Droid Eris, there are little annoying things about the interface. Sometimes ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/eliminate-ambiguity-and-confusion/ Does your business cater to young people? Do children primarily use your website? Have you tested your website's usability on your target market... children? Children and toddlers, even, are using the internet on a regular basis. A website that targets these young people will need special design considerations, but it will also present ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/testing-websites-for-children/ What is a Competitive Analysis? I often recommend a competitive analysis to small business owners who are looking to design or redesign their websites. You generally identify several or many industry competitors, and based on quantitative and qualitative analysis, I prepare a summary of findings and recommendations for the website. A ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/benefits-of-a-competitive-analysis/ A client asked for a scrolling bookshelf. The client requested custom graphics on the shelf, informative popups, and links clicking through to each product. And the client wanted it to be easy to add or remove products to the shelf. Could I do it? Yep. If you'd like your own ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/free-scrolling-bookshelf-widget/ Yesterday, Darren Waddell of Mashable.com posted about HOW TO: Create and Distribute Effective Online Coupons. More and more consumers have internet access and smartphones, and online coupons are a great way to encourage spending. This article describes the types of online coupons, ways to distribute, and how to measure your ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/how-to-offer-online-coupons/ Okay, so this was a recent question in a small business forum. I will paraphrase it below then give my response. I also welcome your responses! I have run an online shop for the past year. Although I only sell one product, there are over a thousand styles available right now. ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/why-people-arent-buying-your-web-site-products/ This Week in The Biz Bite, Entrepreneur Coach Whitney Keyes lists her Top 10 Small Business Technology Resolutions. Three of them especially caught my eye. I believe that these are major things every business should do all year long every year! Here's an excerpt: 10. Work the Web. Ask yourself if your ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/top-10-small-business-technology-resolutions/ Mindspring Design adopts the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Designers | the professional association for design) Design Framework. This process is adopted in whole or in part for all our current and future web design projects. Why incorporate a process? This framework helps our clients understand what is involved in the ... http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/mindpsring-design-adopts-aiga-design-framework/ Dowload: 25 Essentials for Email Marketing Campaigns. What do you think? Have these worked for you? Related Posts Don’t Sleep On Email Marketing: How Emails Can Help You Reach Your Small-Business Goals http://mindspringdesign.com/blog/25-essentials-for-email-marketing-campaigns/