So we’ve started. What exactly? Read on…
The definition of the SoapBox Sessions: “A weekly HelloComputer community gathering, where one member of our dysfunctional family takes centre stage and facilitates discussion and debate around a topic of their choosing. The aim is to provoke our brains and share our knowledge in the hopes of improving the way we think, work and live as a collective unit.”
It’s always hard being the first to stand up in front of a group of people (even a friendly environment) and try something new. So hopefully my faltering voice didn’t detract too much from what I had to say. A special mention goes to Benon, who although not here for the first session, was responsible for allowing the SoapBox Session’s to get underway in the first place. Also thanks to Boozy, Tash & Brad, who have not yet turned me into a complete geek (I’m trying though), but have assisted me in learning the basics of HTML and unearthing the best SEO tips and articles on the interwebz.
My SoapBox Session is summarized below…
Principles vs. Facts
We work in an industry where innovation means that the landscape is constantly under threat of evolving. Technology, Google algorithms, best web practices, etc… Everything has the potential to change in a matter of days and could catch us off-guard if we’re not looking out for them.
So while it is important to respect and acknowledge the facts that we have, even to nitpick and argue about them, ultimately the principle of seeking out innovation and of sharing knowledge will be far more beneficial to us, as we benefit from the primary side effect of that principle, which is the constant unearthing of the latest thinking or facts on a subject.
Findability
The concept of findability is fairly logical one, firstly however we must recognise the goals and the motivation for findability.
They are namely:
- To help users to find your website
- And then, find what they’re looking for on your website (content & entertainment are 2 favourites)
- Return traffic to your site (did the user like what they found on your site?)
The components that affect a website’s findability are:
- SEO
- Accessibility
- Usability
- Information Architecture
- Development
- Marketing
- Copywriting
- Design
The way we launch a site should vary for most of our clients as we should always endeavour to find original ways to get out there. The one principle we should all take heed of however, is that everything we do affects the findability of a website. How does your specific role affect the findability of a website? You’re the specialist in your field, so why not find out if there are any pitfalls or recommended best practices that will assist our common goal of making the best websites with the best traffic possible. After all the more successful our clients are, the more we are.
Thanks for my 15 minutes of fame everyone, here’s hoping it was at the very least entertaining for those of you who didn’t find it beneficial.
The next person to stand on the SoapBox will be Michael Scheibe.
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