Archive for October, 2009
No one cares about my website?
1October 2009
As a web developer I am constantly combing the internet for new software, programing techniques, and technologies to expand my service offerings and bring more options to my clients. However, in the search for the “latest-and-greatest” we tech-savvy professionals can become enamored with something “new and shiny” that doesn’t necessarily serve a solid and measurable purpose. It is easy to forget in today’s world of hyperactive media and minuscule attention spans the fundamental reason why people use our services is not to be impressed with new technology, it is to help them solve a problem.
I recently read an article about web usability and web development best practices on the humorously titled Vincent Flanders’ Web Pages That Suck site that inspired this blog entry. Here’s the snippet that I found most interesting:
“Nobody cares about you or your site. Really. What visitors care about is getting their problems solved. Most people visit a web site to solve one or more of the following three problems.
- They want/need information
- They want/need to make a purchase / donation.
- They want/need to be entertained.
you can read the full article here
One of the greatest aspects of the above quoted article is that it was written in 2004, almost a generation ago in web terms. As I mentioned earlier, today’s digital landscape in constantly changing with new tools (and distractions) made available everyday, but our purpose is the same today as it has always been and will continue to be forever - problem solving.
Its almost shocking to read that first sentence - Nobody cares about you or your site. It can be heartbreaking and even offensive for individuals and businesses that spend time and money to build their “prefect” website only to discover that *GASP* no one cares. I know it sounds funny but this website and your website don’t exist simply to display cutting edge design, wow you with modern video effects, or impress users with fancy technology; websites (and businesses in general) exist so that users can solve a specific problem.
It is important for us as web designers and developers to keep this concept at the forefront of our minds through every stage of a project. In order to accomplish this we must put the end-user’s needs first and explain to our clients why this strategy makes sense. Everyone has dealt with a client at one point or another that is dead-set on having it their way come hell or high water, and we sometimes must concede defeat in order to preserve client relationships. But over time every client will see that putting the customer first will help them reap the benefits they are looking for, and in the end help them solve their own problems.