Matrix Group International

Month: January 2010

  • Are Home Pages Dead? Where Are Your Visitors Going?

    Are Home Pages Dead? Where Are Your Visitors Going?

    My mom called me up one day to tell me that she loved the Google logo that day and what did I think of it? (I think the Google logo was commemorating the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street that day, btw.) At that moment, I realized that it had been weeks, maybe months, since I last visited the Google home page. Of course I use Google every day, but I use the Google search that’s built into my Web browser. Whenever I need to do a search, I click into the little box, type my keywords, then hit Enter. And voila, I get my search results.

    I got to wondering if the home page, the single that we, as Web designers, spend soooooo much time wire framing and designing, has lost its luster. So I started checking our usage reports.  Sure enough, the home page of this blog gets represents between 7-10% % of the total traffic in any given month and 6-9% of total entry pages.  It makes sense given that most of the traffic comes from the blog’s RSS feed, e-mail updates, social media pages and search engines, all of which direct visitors to specific pages,  NOT the home page. The Matrix Group Web site home page gets 28% of total traffic, and that number makes sense, given that many people come to the site to learn more about the company as a result of our direct marketing efforts.

    I started checking clients’ usage reports and I found that of all the sites I checked, the results were similar.  The home page gets between 17-40% of total traffic, and 15-30% of entry pages.

    It turns out that lots of other people are thinking about this phenomenon and some are even declaring that the home page is dead.  Rick Stratton from Feed.us says, “(y)our homepage’s homepage is dying” because search engines, social media, RSS are linking directly to content pages.
    (more…)

  • Design Cuisine Blog

    Design Cuisine Blog

    Matrix Group partnered with Design Cuisine a recognized D.C. Metro area catering company to design and launch a corporate blog, www.insidedesigncuisine.com.  The goal of the blog was to create a new platform for Design Cuisine to market its services to future prospects, connect with its target audiences and remain top of mind as the premier catering company for every type of event – from weddings, inaugural luncheons and movie premiers to small dinner parties.  Design Cuisine’s unique style and marketing initiatives played a key component in the development and design process of the blog.

    Matrix Group:

    • Created a simple, user-focused navigation and layout, so visitors can easily find information, view photos on events and comment on posts.
    • Integrated the blog with photo sharing site Flickr, including a “tortellini slide show” to highlight Design Cuisine’s beautiful food presentation, team of talented chefs and innovative menu ideas.  The photos also provide visitors with a behind the scenes look at the 60 chefs, and staff members who work to perfect each event.
    • Collaborated with Design Cuisine’s staff to ensure the messaging and appearance of the blog were consistent with Design Cuisine’s existing Web site and brand identity.

    Visit the New Design Cuisine Blog

  • Dear Doctor, Don’t You Know Me By Now?

    Dear Doctor, Don’t You Know Me By Now?

    I went for my annual physical yesterday. I love the practice I go to, but I hate feeling like I’m a nameless, faceless patient, even though I’ve been a patient for a decade. I also hate that I have to fill out the same infernal forms over and over again and write my name, address and insurance information multiple times. My check-in went something like this:

    Me: Hello, Joanna Pineda, here for a 3:15 appointment.
    Receptionist: Hello, please sign in. Has any of your information changed since your list visit?
    Me: No.
    Receptionist: Okay. Wait, you need to fill out new forms. (Hands me blank forms)

    I sit down and sigh as I realize that I am giving my doctor all the information she already has.  Not one thing in my profile has changed.  I also have to agree to a 4-page HIPAA privacy statement, which infuriates me because I have about three minutes to review the document.  C’mon doctor, can’t you:

    • Print out my information and let me confirm that nothing has changed or let me tell you just what has changed?
    • Send me the HIPAA privacy statement ahead of time so that I can really study it?

    Thankfully, because of my work, I’m familiar with HIPAA privacy statements and my rights, but what normal person takes the time to read and understand the document and his/her rights?

    This doctor visit makes me think of how Matrix Group clients want and expect that we will know them, their organization, their contact information, their projects. It’s a joke around the office that many clients have achieved one-name status around here, kind of like Madonna or Cher.  All the receptionist needs to say is, “Rajani (Rick, Pat, Sue, Merla, or Adrianne) is on the line” and pretty much every staff member knows who she’s talking about.  Of course, more common names like Dan or Tim need a client name, but if you’re a frequent caller, our First Impressions Officer will probably know you by voice.
    (more…)

  • Campbell Wealth Management Web site Redesign

    Campbell Wealth Management Web site Redesign

    Matrix Group partnered with Campbell Wealth Management a leading financial advisor firm to launch a redesigned Web site.  Matrix Group worked closely with Campbell and his team to create a Web site that strongly connected with his personal philosophy, “to build, manage and protect clients’ financial wealth through a superior level of service with one goal in mind—to enhance their quality of life.” Campbell’s philosophy and approach has been a critical component of the company’s marketing efforts, and was the basis for the Web site’s design.

    Matrix Group:

    • Included a user-friendly navigation that lets visitors know about Campbell Wealth Management’s financial services.
    • Added interactive videos that provide information on financial strategies  and best practices to building, managing and protecting financial assets.
    • Valuable tools and forms to help visitors with their financial planning, including  financial calculators to assess their current performances and outlook.
    • Incorporated information on Campbell and his team, highlighting their accolades and expertise in the financial planning sector.
    • Collaborated with Campbell Wealth to ensure that the site complied with regulatory standards.

    Visit the New Campbell Wealth Management Web site!

  • Pulmonary Hypertension Association Web site Redesign

    Pulmonary Hypertension Association Web site Redesign

    Matrix Group partnered with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) to launch a redesigned Web site.  The goal of the redesign was to create a Web site that conveys PHA’s mission-to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension through community support, education, advocacy and awareness.  In addition, it was imperative that the new site design focused on effectively communicating the right information to each type of PHA’s diverse audience of medical professionals, patients and their families, volunteers and donors.

    Matrix Group:

    • Created a user-focused navigation that directs visitors to specific areas on the Web site based on their needs, motivations and online behaviors.
    • Collaborated with PHA staff on a rework of the site’s content to ensure each page’s key messages and calls to action were clearly defined.
    • Seamlessly integrated PHA’s public-site with a third party database vendor, so when the redesigned site was launched, PHA had immediate access to all of their data.

    Visit the New Pulmonary Hypertension Association Web site

  • Crowdsourced Software Development?

    Crowdsourced Software Development?

    This afternoon, the MatrixMaxx team at Matrix Group held a Town Hall meeting with clients to get feedback on about a half dozen features slated to go into the 10.1 version (scheduled for release in early February).  We could have surveyed clients via e-mail or a Web survey; we could have conducted a focus group; we could have called a select group of clients and consultants; or we could have gone with our gut and made decisions about credit card processing, meeting wait lists, individual relationships, etc.

    Instead, we decided to crowdsource the specifications.  Crowdsource?  What does this mean?  Wikipedia defines “crowdsourcing” as the “act of taking tasks traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing them to a group of people or community, through an “open call” to a large group of people (a crowd) and asking for contributions.”  Wikipedia also uses this definition: “the trend of leveraging the mass collaboration enabled by Web 2.0 technologies to achieve business goals.”

    In the past, Tanya (the Director of MatrixMaxx) and I would sit down, discuss requirements, maybe make a few calls, and then decide on the specifications for each release.  This time around, we decided to get immediate feedback from as big a group of clients as possible to validate our ideas and generate new ones.

    The Mechanics of the Town Hall Meeting

    • We sent an e-mail invitation to all MatrixMaxx clients, inviting them to an hour-long, online Town Hall meeting.  The e-mail provided details on the half dozen topics under consideration, with a general discussion of the options available.
    • Clients were invited to provide feedback in real-time during the meeting, before the meeting via phone and email, and after the meeting via phone and e-mail.
    • About 60% of the clients registered at least one person to the Town Hall meeting, which was conducted via conference call and Webex.
    • Tanya ran the meeting, leading the discussion and taking notes, which were shared out via Webex to all participants.

    (more…)

  • Does the Social Web Mean the End of Privacy?

    Does the Social Web Mean the End of Privacy?

    Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg has gotten a lot of flack lately for his pronouncement (during an interview with TechCrunch) that privacy norms have evolved over the years and privacy is essentially dead.  I watched the interview myself and think the criticism is overdone.  I think that Zuckerberg has correctly described the times and his company is taking advantage of our voyeuristic culture.  Facebook did not create this culture.  I think it started with the first reality show on MTV back in 80s. We watched the teens living together and reveled in their pranks and arguments.

    Does the social Web mean the end of privacy?  Are MySpace and Facebook to blame for all the personal revelations we spew out every day?  Or should we blame Google and Bing, which manage to index the Web and let anyone find out gobs and gobs of information about each of us?  When I Google my name (Joanna Pineda), I find lots of information that I WANT the search engines to find and index.  But I also find pages that have my address, my political contributions and address, yada, yada.  I’m not happy that Facebook changed its privacy settings and defaulted some of my information to be available to everyone, but I actually appreciate the more granular control that I now have over my posts, link and photos.

    What do you think?  Is privacy dead?  How much do you reveal on social networks?  Are you doing anything to keep out of the search engines?

  • Drive by Daniel H. Pink

    Drive by Daniel H. Pink

    Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – a must read for business owners and managers

  • A Look Back at 2009: My Favorite Statistics and Trends Web Sites

    A Look Back at 2009: My Favorite Statistics and Trends Web Sites

    It’s the new year and it’s customary to look at the previous year and make predictions about the upcoming year or decade.  Every day in my e-mail inbox, I get a flood of Top Ten lists.  So where do I go when I need statistics about which Web browser is winning the browser war, how many users Twitter really has, or the gadgets and technologies that will likely shine in 2010?  Here are my favorite sites:

  • Road Runners Club of America Web site Redesign with MatrixMaxx Implementation

    Road Runners Club of America Web site Redesign with MatrixMaxx Implementation

    Matrix Group partnered with Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) to launch a redesigned Web site which includes full integration with MatrixMaxx.  The goal of the redesign was to increase RRCA’s membership by appealing to a broader audience, while maintaining its brand identity.  In addition, RRCA wanted an updated member database, allowing RRCA staff to easily manage membership recruitment and renewals, update the calendar of races, and keep the directories current.

    Matrix Group:

    • Redesigned RRCA’s new site to reflect the vibrancy of the organization and running community.
    • Created user profiles that guided the design and development process with an understanding of who the visitors are, as well as their needs and motivations.
    • Developed a navigation structure and site design that highlights RRCA’s member benefits, programs, services, events and races.
    • Integrated the new Web site with association management software MatrixMaxx, making it possible for staff to manage the association’s back-office and for running clubs and members to post their events to the Web site, use the Find a Coach directory, and renew their membership.

    Visit the New Road Runners Club of America Web site