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Writing on the Wall

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The subject of this entry is literal. The youngest (would you believe he’ll be two in April?) posted his artwork near the front door on three sides of the column. He didn’t have the good sense to use pretty colors… instead, he used ugly brown. One of my least favorite colors. My first car was … Read more

David Suzuki Foundation

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Dave Taylor is the communications director at David Suzuki Foundation. The organization uses Marqui’s CMS to manage its site. What were your basic requirements when you began looking for a CMS? We needed something simple that didn’t require technical expertise to use, had a built-in subscriber database capacity, and a timed release function. What other … Read more

Home Cafe Update

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Last time I reported on the Home Cafe, I indicated I had a problem with the reservoir as it leaked. I finally got a replacement and it doesn’t leak. Based on my research, getting one that leaks is a matter of luck. Some people get it and some don’t. My mom didn’t. I did. Sounds … Read more

What Makes a Good CMS?

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A few years ago (2000? 2001?), I reviewed my first CMS for an online magazine. It was overwhelming, but I researched CMSes in general because it was important to write about it from the company’s perspective and not my own as a single user with simpler needs. The CMS, at the time, was of good … Read more

QBQ in Action

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The November issue of eNewsletter Journal went out today. A reader alerted me to an embarrassing mistake and how the order form for the blog needs improvement. Here it is in his own words: I tried to buy the How to Start a Business Blog etc article, but when I chose Credit Card, trying to … Read more

In Memoriam

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In Memoriam Glenn Elliot January 10, 1968 – November 13, 2004 You are loved and missed very much.

Hospital Usability Lessons

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Usability isn’t only for Web design. It’s also applicable in the real world as things aren’t always well-designed. Paying attention to real world design can help you think through usability for Web design. For instance, there is an elevator in New York where the numbers are in three columns. The numbers go across, but in this elevator they go from right to left instead of left to right. It’s in English not Hebrew.
Elevator in NY:
10 9 8
7 6 5
Most elevators:
8 9 10
5 6 7
This concept can be applied to a Web page by assuring numbers, letters, and other meaningful groups of information are sorted in a logical order.
I also saw a school speed zone sign where it said to slow down during the following times:
7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
2:45 AM – 3:30 PM
Hmm… figure out what’s wrong with this sign? This one can also teach a lesson for Web design usability. What lessons come to mind?
Donald Norman talks about such design in The Design of Everyday Things. While I was in the hospital twice in a little over a one week period, I discovered a few usability problems.

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Follow the Long Yellow Copy

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At the end of the copy isn’t Oz or anyone singing about rainbows and bluebirds. I’ve been studying long copy and what makes it successful. Read Follow the Long Yellow Copy. Having blogged for over four years, I’ve watched blogging grow and change. Blogging tools can do a lot for a business. Like everything in … Read more

What Does Email Silence Mean?

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Ilise Benun, author of Designing Websites for Every Audience, has been talking about “What does the silence mean?” in her Quick Online Marketing Tips newsletter. This is an issue I have grappled with many times especially since I rely on email as a primary means of communication rather than the phone because of my hearing … Read more

Blog or Golb?

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Seth Godin – Are blogs backwards? He makes the following statements: a. a lot more blogs should be posted in chronological order, like books. If you’re trying to chronicle something, it makes a lot of sense to start at the beginning, as long as you provide regular readers an easy way to just read the … Read more