User interface design guidelines

23/01/09 21:04

Writer guidelines say: Did you know that 79% of web users scan the page instead of reading word-for-word? That people read from computer screens 25% slower than from paper? Or that web content should have 50% of the word count of its paper equivalent?

Blogging isn't just about writing for the benefit of skim readers, you have to consider the Google robots too.

Bloggers have designed many different interfaces to cope with skimmers and readers of all persuasions. Here is a range of user interface designs, not based on guidelines, but on what felt right for the target audience.

The generic blogger.

Back to basics first. 99% of the many quintillion million blogs on-line interface with the reader via text, an image or two and even a video clip for fun. The Pisstakers are guilty as charged.

In our defense, we are aware of the scanning syndrome and go for short paragraphs and big headings. I can scan any article on this site in about 3 seconds, from heading to heading. Judging by the number of people who leave the site within 30 seconds of arriving, my headings are brilliant communicators!

Imagery in blogs

It gets more interesting, however, when you present a blog reader with images-only. How many people have you heard say, "I couldn't finish looking at that photo, it was too hard to get to the bottom!" Exactly!

A picture communicates 1000 words and does it very quickly and powerfully. As long as you aren't presenting blurry upside down holiday snaps, the interface between reader and image is very effective.

Photo blog

Before it was abandoned to money-grabbing link maniacs, Innings site was 98% photographic image and about 2% text, by my unscientific calculations. Norman Roberts' website was one of the most powerful collections of emotions on the internet, IMHO. Happiness, sadness, disgust, anger... name your vice and you'd find an example or 20 at the end of your nose at Innings, with no need to scan a single word, most of the time. Need I say more?

Cartoon / comic blog

On a pixel per reader reaction count, cartoons are even more effective at engaging a "reader" than photos. At MyExtra Life which is only 1% text , Scott Johnson depicts humorous expressions and feelings with a swish of his digital pen. A quick scribble of wording to add to the picture, and he draws even the most ADD of readers to the punch line of his comic strip.

Then there is the quick sketch approach to catch the readers' attention. Zackie does a scintillating job with the swish of an ink pen and a scanner, en français. You feel, quoi?

Time line blog

Look at Where It Stands is an example of where the blogger uses the humble time line to express dozens of opinions with the minimum of text. Sort of like a morse code of art?

The Venn diagram blog

And finally, the humble venn diagram has been taken to a new level of communication by several brilliant minds. Here, a brain box explains the difference between the UK and Britain using a venn diagram! found at The Alex Barnett Blog.

Super intelligent venn diagramists can even venn away before writing the required thousands of words explaining the stupidity of politics and religion.

Pisstakers on communication

Personally, I have to stick with words to communicate. At least with the internet, I can link to, and show off the different interfaces I couldn't possibly dream up or create myself.

If you see any other novel blogging styles, let Ed know so he can write something about them.

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Cheers, Ed

Online food traffic generator

06/01/09 12:29

How many Americans visit blogs? Answer - 5 out of 10. How many US adults are obese? Around 25% !! Is it any wonder that some of the Pisstakers' food-related posts generated the most online traffic.

Gummi bears nutrition for your blog

Last year the MyBlogLog site showed that over 300 visited The Pisstakers in one day in search of gummi bears. Some bloggers actually found them. Hundreds kept coming back looking for more.

The tasty Polliwog found quite a few haribo gummi bears, which was good, seeing as she has 6 kids to feed. And with 6 kids to entertain, did she search for Gummi bears Cartoon Pictures?

Out of interest, how do you eat your gummi bears? Head first? That says something about you, you know!

Cadbury's chocolate market research

At Easter, a flood of traffic came looking at my anecdotal research into shrinking Cadburys creme eggs

The marketing decision to shrink a product when everyone else is upsizing was too much for some. It was definitely too much for me. I felt ripped off by the puny size of my favorite creme-filled milk chocolate egg, and there was no one to complain to. So for therapy, I had to blog about it - and go buy twice as many eggs as normal.

I was happy, munching my way to chocolate heaven, bombarded by readers, but later that month, it wasn't such a happy scene at Funny HQ. My dentist was pissed at me for willfully damaging my gums - but I can assure you, he was not as pissed as I was by the cost to rectify the damage.

A Small Orange health kick

On a healthy note, the flood of gummi bear and chocolate egg traffic did not upset my web hosts. It doesn't surprise me. They are known as A Small Orange (ASO). They are a healthy bunch and their citrus servers are resistant to all known strains of food related hits.

If you are a blogger, here's my advice to stay healthy, avoid obesity, and attract lots of readers.

1 - Post about eating gummi bears and chocolate eggs in moderation
2 - Totally load up on small oranges.
3 - Live the dream and blog healthy.

I did all this, and me and my blog are healthy now.

BTW if you are reading this in a Feed Reader, it is not necessarily the latest posting, so check out The Pisstakers.