Faces for Change

In light of recent events I would like to help promote a new non profit awareness website. This site will be dedicated to educating the public about bullying and the effects it has on our lives and the lives of those around us.
This sites demographic can be quite large. I think the largest makeup of people will simply be those that have experienced or been affected by some sort of bullying. This will include a lot of teenagers. I think most teens from all walks of life could associate with this somehow. Parents of affected teenagers may be the next largest group. Next group would be people who get involved with social issues. Activists and people involved with similar issues.
This is a non-profit and all donations would go to the cause I presume, so getting the word out to people who are willing to donate and hopefully make a difference is key. The site is in it's infancy and is just getting started but if anyone wants to check it out feel free....

Faces for Change

Two Websites

Wikipedia.com

• This site is effective because it uses its user base for content and correction of information.
• They use good hierarchy and fairly easy navigation.
• All of the information keeps me coming back.
• Perhaps the layout could be a bit more streamlined...

Google.com

• Because they deliver what you are looking for in a simple text format, listed by relative items to your search.
• Very simple and effective site. Not a lot of clutter or confusion.
• To search up all of the stuff I need to know!
• Could actually start to read your mind and remove any interface at all!!

Web layouts

So this is my take on some good and bad websites....


http://tectorch.com (Not so Good)

1. They could create a logo to create better brand recognition and use their slogan much better. 
2. The first problem for me is the site looks like a big jumble of small text. I am already not interested in this site. 
3. They definitely could have aligned the text elements of the site better to encourage the reader. 
4. Highlighting their feature items could help. They are listed lower on the page and do not stand out. 
5. A better navigable menu of items sold could help as well. They are linked by pictures below and listed on the right margin. Perhaps a navigable categorized menu of torches/accessories available on front page to avoid scrolling to find. 

http://www.swagelok.com/ (Good)

1. Great layout, good use of alignment. 
2. Hierarchy is put to use by the Navigable picture pane with the main features of the site. (Shop, solve, learn and contact) 
3. Easy and simple navigation and layout throughout the site. 
4. Maybe a better logo for brand recognition could help? 

http://www.gforceracecars.com/ (Not so Good)

1. Bad use of alignment throughout. Does not encourage me to read through the long list of information available. 
2. So much wasted space on the left and right margins. I think they should use every inch of what the user sees initially to catch your attention. Then navigate from there. I don’t want to scroll down through a poorly laid out website. 
3. Repetition is used, but could have been done much better by highlighting features. 

http://apple.com  (Good)

1. Great hierarchy. They feature their ipad mini, which is the newest and least known product. 
2. Easy to use. Simple navigation that takes me to where I want to go. Not a lot of scrolling.

Sites that Utilize Social Media

Here are a few sites I found that utilize social media...


Pepsi
http://www.pepsi.com/
facebook and twitter

Monster Energy
http://www.monsterenergy.com/
facebook, twitter, youtube, google+ and instagram

McDonalds
http://www.mcdonalds.com
facebook and twitter

Red Bull
http://www.redbull.com
facebook, twitter and google+

5-hour Energy
http://www.5hourenergy.com
facebook, twitter, youtube, google+ and blogger


Good stuff!

Tough Business

I usually am a pretty laid back person and try not to let people and especially business' get to me. Some times however there is that one experience where someone really just ruins your day. Maybe on purpose!

So I am thinking back to a local eye doctor I went to go see when I got new insurance. Insurance is strange in that way, they want you to go to their preferred providers.... So no big deal right I go in, normal everyday eye checkup. Shine some light here, please read the letters on the wall, you know typical visit. Now I should start by saying that I have been wearing contacts for some time and have a 'brand' that works for me. Every other type I have tried drives me crazy and I can't stand to wear. That is in direct conflict with what these doctors are trying to do of course. They all want to sell you the latest thing that they are going to have the highest profit margin on. Companies push them to sell certain things. Think of pharmaceutical companies and the way they sell to doctors. This is why I explain to new doctors that I wear a certain type of lens and have tried many other types and they do not work for me. Never works. There is always a new and much better, more breathable, lighter lens that smashes oxygen into your eyeballs and I simply must try. I am really bad at saying no... OK. So I will usually try. Never works out. This particular time however I went through 4 pairs, coming back for multiple visits. I finally ended up with my 'brand'. I called in after wearing my trial lens' of my 'brand' for a week and told the Doc that that was working and to order me my supply for the year. I go pick them up, bring em home and without much thought rip open the box and pop them in after disposing of my trials. I quickly realize they are not my 'brand'. That #@$% ordered the same lens' that I wasted weeks trying out and telling him over and over that I did not like. When I brought them back they said that they could not give me my money back or exchange them. It was also the first time I had to pay extra out of pocket for my yearly supply. I demanded my prescription and had to buy them from another office in the next town over. I go there now for my yearly visits.

I think social media could have helped me out quite a bit here actually. I could have spent the time to review sites that recommend great doctors in the area. When I got home that night, in my furious rage I could have written a lengthy rant about how awful the place was and what a quack he and his staff were on my blog. I could have written reviews on Health Grades or Yelp screaming about the scandal! Maybe I could have convinced them somehow that I would update my review if they only made right by me... but I didn't. Next time however, I will.

Oh and there is a really great wine place in the village called the Relm that sends me stuff on Facebook about events and specials and it's great, you should check it out!

Social media geared for business? Or Pleasure?

I think some of the more personal social media platforms would include the photo sharing sites like Instagram, personal life sharing sites Like Facebook/Myspace and entertainment sites like Reddit for example. A lot of these sites and others like them can be fun for personal use and at the same time allow businesses to gather data for market services and maybe sell you something as well. Which I think makes them great tools for businesses as well. I think today what we are seeing is businesses effectively blurring that line for more effective marketing and a better user experience.