How Do You Navigate Your Smart Phone?
I recently read an article by Luke Wroblewski which got me thinking…
Should we be considering how people use a particular device, rather than the characteristics of its structure and size?
Here at Techdept we often build responsive websites categorising the device by size into the appropriate media queries and adjusting content to fit. What I find interesting about this article is that it considers the use of someone’s thumb as a viable input device (that’s the equivalent to a mouse or keyboard) that can be restricted by the characteristics of the device itself.
For example, how do you navigate your smart phone? Turns out 49% of people use the one thumb approach.
The article also looks at how the posture or position of the user can affect how they use your website.
It certainly raises a few interesting points for us to consider, especially with the ever growing dominance of smartphones for web browsing.
3 Reasons To Use Google Analytics
Did you know that “Google wants you to attract more of the traffic you are looking for”? Jolly nice of them, but how?
Enter Google Analytics.
Analytics generates detailed statistics about your website so you can see who is visiting, when and for how long. It is a powerful tool.
Yet to explore its potential? Here are 3 great reasons for taking the Analytics plunge…
1) Simplicity
It may sound daunting, but Google Analytics is surprisingly easy to implement. You just need to sign up, register your site and add a unique tracking code to your main webpage (just before the closing </head> tag). Your website developer will be able to do this for you if you’re not sure where to start. Google also provide a great checklist for Analytics newbies
2) Insight
Ever wondered how many people view your site on a mobile device, or which country most of your visitors come from? Google Analytics can tell you. This information will enable you to improve the user experience and hopefully boost your visitor numbers.
We recently updated one of our websites (www.tidybrand.com) based on analytic feedback. The result? Users are now spending three times longer on the site.
3) Objectivity
Opinions are great. They encourage discussion and generate new ideas, but there comes a time when decisions must be made! For web projects, Google Analytics is a great way to make data-driven decisions.
“Should we create a multi-language site”, “Should we get a mobile site”… the list is endless. It’s likely that Google Analytics can answer most of your questions and help you avoid the drawn out discussion.
Already a Google Analytics Pro?
Take a look at some of our favourite advanced tools:
- KISSmetrics – Ideal for those who want an extra level of detail
- Crazy Egg – Heat mapping software, perfect for showing you the popular areas of a page
Wanderful inspiration May 2013
Latest inspiration featuring great illustrations and use of big images
MCV Awards - Activision
We’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate one of our clients on winning an award at the recent MCV Awards 2013. The awards recognise outstanding contributions made in the sales and marketing of video games.
Activision were nominated in the Best Trade Marketing category on the back of excellent work on series such as Call of Duty, Skylanders and various Blizzard titles. Keith, Char and Lottie were on stage to accept the award, and we hope were celebrating appropriately at the after-party!
Techdept built and hosts the Digital Asset Management system which underpins a lot of the Activision trade team’s activity, so we couldn’t be more pleased at their success. After beating off strong competition for the coveted award, we’d like to say well done and well deserved to the whole team!
For a full list of winners at this year’s awards visit mcvuk.com
5 ways to improve your social media strategy
Social media is a great way to stay in touch with your customer base. It’s cheap, easy and has global reach. However, as more businesses jump on the social media bandwagon, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd. Here are 5 great ways you can improve your social media strategy…
Spring has sprung…
…and nearly it’s time for our next staff outing, this time to friends of Techdept the fabulous Crown & Anchor in exotic Barnsley. With a great beer selection and national award winning pies on offer I think we have all bases covered!
If you fancy a trip yourself check out the site we recently made for them at www.thecrownandanchor.com
Watch this space for pie related photos!
The Valve employee handbook
A while ago I read the Valve employee handbook which Valve have published online:
http://www.valvesoftware.com/company/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf
Valve sounds like an awesome place to work:
- There are no managers, there is no management hierarchy, “nobody ‘reports to’ anybody else.
- Valve employees spend 100% of their time working on whatever project they like, they even have ‘wheelie desks’ so that they can sit wherever they like.
Here’s why they do it:
“when you’re an entertainment company that’s spent the last decade going out of its way to recruit the most intelligent, innovative, talented people on Earth, telling them to sit at a desk and do what they’re told obliterates 99 percent of their value”
Perhaps Valve is a special case and their business particularly suits this way of working but I think implementing this to a lesser degree could work very well in other companies.
Whilst the projects at many companies are driven by client requests and have time scale & specification requirement obligations that have to be met, I think allocating a proportion of time for every employee to work on self-directed projects could unlock the full potential of every employee and the company as a whole.
5 pieces of music I like to work to
Following on from Dave’s post about music he listens to while working, thought I’d share my 5 favourites…
1.The Social Network: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Perhaps THE perfect music with which to write a tech start up business plan ;0)
2.Plastikman: Closer
Now ten years old, but still sounds like a deep dispatch from the future. This is the opening track: “Don’t ask me, ask yourself”.
3.Life of Pi: Mychael Danna
This won the 2013 soundtrack Oscar, and got my vote for the BAFTAs. This piece is from the bit when the ship sinks (which I don’t think gives away any plot secrets!).
4.Cat Power: Jukebox
A 2008 album of cover versions (the above is a James Brown track), all reminiscent of late night Americana.
5. A Dark Knight: Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
The last track on the album, and the best one to work to. A 15 minute dark emotive epic, you need to give it some time. I also did a DJ mix mashup of the album, which you can listen to here
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