I've found the recent web design articles interesting and especially timely because not only did I engage in web site redesign in my former position with the state, but in my upcoming new position with the University, I will also be engaged in web site redesign. I find the art of web design (and I do think it is an art!) really interesting, and personally, don't think you can ever read too much information about what makes a site clean, user-friendly, easy-to-navigate, and one in which vistors want to visit again! In one ofthe articles from this week's readings (
http://poynterextra.org/EYETRACK2004/main.htm), I found it fascinating that this research group conducted a study to measure how site visitors' eyes traveled across the web sites that were presented to them. This research not only validated information that we already knew (such as the direction in which the eyes travel, larger font = more scanning whereas smaller font = more reading), but it also revealed nuggets of information that I thought was actually kind of interesting (such as left side versus right side placement of a navigation bar didn't make much of a difference).
As a side note, as I was wrapping things up at the State last week, I was going through some old files and came across this web site that I had bookmarked as a neat way to present benefits-related information to employees. Working as a communications professional in the realm of human resources, I always have the challenge of presenting some times "boring" information in a way that will actually engage employees. I think this web site takes a different approach with the graphics in telling the "benefits story."
http://www.pseg.com/career/overview.jsp (Note: Click on Employee Benefits)
G. Feldmann, 2/18/08
The Eyetrack article reminded me of a fellow student’s presentation on Google in a Consumer Behavior class. Many of you might be aware of the study that was conducted to figure out the hot spots on Google’s search results page. The results are more or less similar to what was found through the Eyetrack III study. The study indicated that, not surprisingly, most of the eye tracking activity happened in a triangle at the top left of the search results page called the “golden triangle.” This has important implications for search engine marketing (SEM) as it clearly shows the advantages of appearing in the top few positions in a search. Also earlier researches indicated that people spent more time going through search results and spent some time before choosing a link. However these days it’s all about clicking through quickly and hence search marketing has become a real estate game. Companies are currently spending top dollars on SEM ($9.4 billion in 2006 on Search Engine Optimization, paid placements, etc) and spending is set to grow to $18.6 billion by 2011 in North America.
Darshana 2/18/08
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