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Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Right Click This!

I use the right-click button on my mouse all the time and I would suggest anyone who owns a PC to right-click anything they see on their screen. You’ll be amazed at what you can do and what options you’ll have.

When we start a new project at MJS Web Solutions, we always research our customer’s competing websites. During our research I came across the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce website and tried to use the right-click feature to go ‘Back’ and received the following error message:

Provide Access For Everyone

I understand website owners do not want their data stolen or used in an unauthorized manner, but don’t disable my ability to move throughout the website. This is wrong and not user friendly at all. I’m sure they don’t understand the other ramifications (i.e. Back feature) of disabling the right-click option, otherwise they wouldn’t inconvenience users visiting their site.

If you don’t want people to steal your web content, add a disclaimer at the bottom of every web page. If you don’t want people to copy or download your images add a watermark to your images.

Disabling access to the right-click feature does not prevent anyone from stealing your images. I can take a screenshot (click ‘Print Screen’ on my keyboard) and copy the whole site. So basically disabling the right-click feature is pointless and causes grief for the good visitors while your trying to protect from the bad visitors.

Web Usability and User Experience

I’m writing about web usability issues here. To answer the questions: How well does a website manage my ability to read it, access it, maneuver through it and get what I want? It’s all about the user experience.

Disabling the right-click feature and other kinds of interruptions may get people upset and leave your site.

Our goal, and the goal of every web designer, should be to provide access for everyone. And always build your website with the visitor in mind.

Have a great week.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 9:10 am

Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design


Monday, July 18, 2005
Customer Service is Still Important on the Web

Hello. I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was pretty exciting. I spent Saturday shopping for a new guitar.

I visited Blue Note Music, in Berkeley, California first. Good thing I did because as soon as I walked in, I was greeted and treated as a buying customer.

I immediately asked if they sold Paul Reed Smith guitars. Yes they did and they had one. James (I suppose the owner) sat me down with the guitar to try out. He explained to me all about the guitar, how it was made, different models and features.

He had to take care of something else, but didn’t leave me alone and asked if another member of his staff, Justin, to sit down with me in case I had anymore questions. I did and Justin answered all of them - even some I didn’t ask. I instantly became an informed buyer. Now that’s customer service.

Customer Service on the Web

On the web, you can still provide excellent customer service. Just because we are not face to face doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly, knowledgeable and available.

Here are some simple things you can do to make your website more personal for your visitors:

  1. Add a Contact Us form with an autoresponder.
  2. Show profiles of your staff or key members of your firm.
  3. Include an online forum where visitors ask questions and members of the company give out FREE information and feedback.
  4. Add an online chat feature where visitors can request information from a live person.
  5. Add a blog to your website. Blogs are personal and visitors can leave comments and/or feedback.
Adding these features will bring back customers, keep existing customers and draw new customers from positive word of mouth referrals.

I am buying that guitar and I am buying it from Blue Note Music. I could get it online or at another store, but why? I go where I’m treated like a customer, not like a wallet.

P.S. The web can be an impersonal environment. Remember who visits your website…people.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 5:30 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design


Monday, July 11, 2005
Build Your Identity Into Your Product

What is your point of difference? What makes your company, product or service different or better than your competition? Your point of difference depends on two things - whether you have a Purple Cow or not.

A Purple Cow…Now That’s Interesting

Think about it. If you had a Purple Cow, do you think you would stand out from the crowd? Sure you would. Seth Godin thinks so too. His idea of the Purple Cow signifies your need to differentiate yourself by creating a product or service that’s remarkable. Godin says, we pretty much have everything we need in life with regard to products and services, but imagine if you had a Purple Cow? Now that would be something. Some examples of Purple Cow’s include: Jet Blue, Starbucks, Dutch Boy, Pearl Jam and The Aeron Chair.

The New Zealander - A Local Purple Cow

After reading the Purple Cow, I’m now on the look out for companies differentiating themselves - and getting very creative in the process too. An excellent example of a company that developed a Purple Cow is The New Zealander, a new restaurant here in Alameda California that has a niche selling pub/pot pies (That’s a Purple Cow in itself). They designed and built their brand literally into the existing building.

Building Your Brand Into The Product

The restaurant is surrounded by 8 windows. It was like looking into a fishbowl. Diners didn’t have very much privacy. To alleviate the fishbowl effect, they frosted the bottom portion of the windows. But they didn’t just frost them; they included their logo into the design. What a fantastic idea! Brilliant!

Not only did they provide privacy for their customers, but they also built their brand right into the product - the building. Now that’s remarkable.

My question to you: What is your Purple Cow?

P.S. They also have good pies too. Mike Swartz says, “Check ‘em out”.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 12:54 pm

Comments: None | Filed under: Uncategorized


Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Sponsored Listings Are Paid Listings

Hello. I hope your holiday was an exciting one.

Mine definitely was. My girlfriend and I celebrated my birthday (don’t ask how old I am) at the Moaning Caverns in Vallecito, California. We rappelled down into the caverns about 165 feet. (It felt more like 1,065 feet). I was doing okay until my feet started to slip and my body came crashing into the rocks. It was at this point that I decided I wanted to get off.

Afterwards, standing on solid ground, I felt much better. Would I do it again? Eh. I’ll get back to you on that one.

Sponsored Listings Means Paid Listings

Scaling down the caverns with only one piece of rope holding you up was scary.

What’s even more scary is that internet users still don’t know the difference between paid listings and natural search results. Maybe it’s because some search engines still fail to disclose the difference between the two.

I can understand the confusion. Paid listings, or pay for placement listings, are called “Sponsored Listings”. This subtle, yet deceitful wording makes it seem like they’re not ads, but somehow approved by the search engines.

Where Are The Sponsored Listings?

These ‘Sponsored Listings’, or paid ads, are usually located at the top and/or on the right hand column of your search results. They also may be segmented by a blue or different colored background.

MSN, Yahoo and Google seem to provide some good distinction between the two. Ask Jeeves and Alta Vista do not provide good enough distinction in my opinion. Alta Vista shows sponsored listings in light gray - very difficult to distinguish.

Personally, I do not click on the ‘Sponsored Listings’. I know they’re ads, they paid for placement and the end result (after I click) will be another ad or website trying to sell me something. I hate being sold to.

P.S. After more research, I found that when searchers DO know the difference between paid and natural results, they’re less likely to click on the ‘Sponsored Listings’. Go figure.

Enjoy the short week.

Posted by: Michael Swartz at 10:47 am

Comments: None | Filed under: SEO


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