Author Archive: Larry

This year’s gathering is being held September 15-17 in Las Vegas. RKG will be leading roundtables and providing 1:1 Website Critiques. Hope to see you there.

Some thoughts on a recent Shop.org thread: should online retailers pitch their channel as a money-saving response to that increasingly costly drive to the mall?

Site search is a conversation, a chance to listen to your customer and respond. Tune it up, and it has the potential to be one of the most ROI-positive investments you’ll make in your site. Is your site search providing maximum return?

Ever wondered how Google decides questions ranging from how many results to serve on a page, to the amount of whitespace with which to pad the logo and the most effective color with which to tint the sponsored link box at the top of the page?

Embracing design and usability conventions is absolutely foundational — but just 1 critical dimension of sites that sell effectively. What else matters?

Wondering if your site visitors are satisfied and how you can help them? We’re fans of Avinash’s 3 question primary purpose survey. A new free tool makes it easier to ask these questions on your own site.

Heading to ACCM Orlando in a couple of weeks? Give us a holler if you’d like to meet up to talk paid search or website effectiveness. We look forward to leading several sessions at the show and connecting with old and new friends.

The March MCM “Effective Website” column suggests 4 fundamental activities to online retailers developing their Social Media strategy.

Attending the B2B show in Orlando next week? We have 3 slots available for mini-clinics designed to help you boost site conversion. 30 minute consultation, no cost.

Is your site clueless about relationships? Take a look at your sign-up processes and embrace drip irrigation marketing.

It’s taken a few more days than expected, but I’m just about dug out from the Internet Retailer Web Design ‘08 show. The most interesting takeaway from this trip: retailers aren’t yet testing their sites.

As seen in real life.

Because they overcome the typical (and non-trivial) challenges with such panache, it’s worth your time to check out to the great “runway videos” on IsabellaOliver.com.

I’m looking forward to presenting at Internet Retailer’s new Web Design Conference, January 30- February 1, in sunny Miami.

One big reason blogging endures: words matter. Here are 11 reasons why text rocks and its mastery is key to building an effective site.

When Facebook makes big changes that affect their users, do they test first?

Whether your next release is a nifty widget or a workmanlike Holiday Gifts page you’ll probably want to take a look at Google’s Best Practices for Social Design.

People are the intelligent, irrational, distracted and determined folks your site needs to serve for your business to succeed. Web Analytics 2.0 is all about people.

It was great to share ideas with the smart interesting folks on the OMW online merchandising panel in San Francisco last week. I’ve jotted down a few highlights from the session.

Get perspectives from Patagonia and Wine Enthusiast in the September “Effective Website” column in Multichannel Merchant.

Yep, the site that made tabs a ubiquitous e-commerce navigation convention is at least considering making them go away.
But of course, Amazon always used tabs incorrectly, anyway. Right?

While The Times may be a bit late to acknowledge the full effect of search engines, blogs and social media on their business model, they’re happy to ask their readers to help them catch up.

“Do people enjoy it? Do they get a sense of speed and purpose?” If you think these questions are worth asking about your site, read on.

“When will I get my stuff?” In our experience, that’s what’s top of mind for the customer perusing shipping options on your website’s Checkout. How well does your site answer the question?

Rule #1 of the Attention Economy: if I want to communicate with you (or market to you) I need to capture your attention and earn the right to keep it. Putting first things first and leveraging prominence and prioritization can help your site win a few points in the competition for online attention.