by Scott on May 12, 2007
Sometimes a slicker ajax-y UI is not the best choice. For instance, every LeadsOnRails contact can be tagged with an unlimitted number of tags. To add a tag, users either enter a new one in a text box or select an existing one from a drop-down box. An alternative design would have been to use auto-complete to show users existing tags as they start to type in the text box.
Auto-complete is a great design choice when it does not matter that two people might use slightly different spelling of the same thing. Auto-complete is a great choice when it is used as a convenience to prevent users from, for example, entering their own name over and over. But with tags the point is tag similar items with the same tags. So it is important that users easily see how others have previously tagged items.
Tags are so free-form that it is easy to forget what existing tags are already entered. With auto-complete prompts, users have to remember their existing tag choices. With an old-fashioned drop-down menu, users can simply select from a list. Certainly, sometimes that list gets very long. Yet it is sorted in alphabetical order and has not been unmanageable to navigate.
Just one example where we need to be careful when designing applications to not always take advantage of ajax interfaces.
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by Scott on May 05, 2007
I wrote about why the Software as a Service model appeals to us as a software vendor (recurring revenue) and also wrote about the biggest SaaS benefit to our customers (the continuous expectation of excellent customer service even after the initial “purchase”). Here now is just one reason I love SaaS as a user.
As I mentioned before, I use livetimer.com for keeping track of my time to review for personal productivity improvement purposes. I recommend FreshBooks.com for billing purposes. I personally use 37s products, Google products, and other SaaS apps. And I do so even though the functionality of many of these apps could be provided by installed desktop apps.
Why?
No Effort Upgrades are Like Free Surprise Bonus Prizes
Each one of these has implement small improvements to their UI or functionality over the last couple weeks. Instead of saving them up to a feature list of enhancements to come out in the next release, the vendors were able to roll them out when ready. Because they are not messing with my machine, they didn’t need to interrupt me with a prompt asking if I want to install the upgrades and reboot. (Because installed apps want to change something on my machine when upgrading, I do want installed applications to interrupt and prompt me. For those apps, this behaviour is preferred so don’t get me wrong there.)
With SaaS apps new improvements in the SaaS apps I use just show up every week at no additional cost to me in money or time. And when trying to reduce the interruptions in my worklife, this method of upgrade delivery is a huge benefit.
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by Scott on May 04, 2007
In Low Tech Local I wrote about the importance of local marketing efforts saying “why not take a few moments from global-domination SEO efforts and give good old local customers a shot.”
Build a Business with Referrals outlined six steps to lay the foundation for a referral strategy.
And 7 Steps to Improved Small Business Marketing Results, showed a systematic approach that any small business can take to improve their marketing reach, including the importance of testimonials.
Business Network International (BNI) is an organization that has not only been preaching these lessons for 22 years, but is apparently full of members who also practice them with great results. I attended a BNI Denver visitors’ meeting this morning to find out more. What I understand from this session is that BNI has established processes that put importance on local referrals and member testimonials. Because of my confidence in this approach, as a prospective member it was great to hear that it is BNI’s approach as well.
If we join BNI I will follow-up with more detail. Until then, if you think that personal referral marketing and networking would be beneficial to your business, take a look at your local BNI chapter.
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by Scott on May 03, 2007
Juuso Hietalahti (Game Producer) had a blog entry today entitled How to Stop Getting Sidetracked in which he shares the 1 hour solution. In the 1 hour solution you make a commitment to yourself to keep working no matter what. This is similar to my articles In Praise of Single-Tasking. Don’t stop to take a quick peek at email, to check the CNN headlines, or see if anyone’s replied to your comment on 37signals/svn. Just keep working on the task at hand. That is a good idea and thanks to Juuso for sharing it.
Email’s Not ‘Fun’, So Why Are We Distracted Into Checking It Often?
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