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  • The Amazon Effect: What Amazon Has Done to the E-Tailing Experience

    The Amazon Effect: What Amazon Has Done to the E-Tailing Experience

    Woman shopping online surrounded by shopping bagsLike the rest of America, I went shopping on Black Friday.  However, I didn’t get up at 3am and I didn’t brave the crowds.  I did my shopping online, largely in response to promotional e-mails that I received throughout the day.  What struck me was how I compared the shopping and checkout experience on all other sites to Amazon.com. I call it “The Amazon Effect” (I’m sure I’m not the only one to call it that, btw).

    I actually hear it all the time from friends, family and clients: why can’t this (insert name of site here) work like Amazon?  Okay, forget for a moment that that Amazon has spent tens of millions on their site.  Here’s what I’ve come to expect from Amazon and would love it if other e-tailers followed suit.

    • Much as I hate to think that my shopping patterns can be predicted by a computer, the personalization on Amazon rocks. Yep, the site pushes all kinds of merchandise on me via e-mail and the Web site, but it’s not crap if I’m even mildly interested.  I’ve been introduced to new bands and authors, and I love that the related items often lead me to what I’m really looking for.
    • Amazon fulfillment is lightning fast. I placed three orders on Black Friday and they all arrived Monday morning.  Meanwhile, another retailer tells me I have to wait 7-10 days for regular shipping.  7-10 days, are you kidding?  What are the people in the warehouse doing? (more…)
  • What Are Your Company Traditions?

    What Are Your Company Traditions?

    ThanksgivingOn my way to work this morning, I heard a story on NPR about how immigrants to this country have adopted the Thanksgiving tradition and made it their own.  A Greek chef talked about how his mother made a Thanksgiving turkey but every other dish during the meal was Greek.  The story reminded me of the importance of traditions.

    We tend to think of traditions as part of our personal and family lives.  But if we look closely, most companies have traditions as well and they bind staff to the company and to each other. Here at Matrix Group, over the past ten years, we’ve amassed a set of traditions.  These traditions include: a pumpkin carving contest during Halloween, funny awards and a white elephant exchange during our holiday party, pie during the June birthday celebration, naming each server after a Star Wars character, and creating a special glass after an especially important launch. (more…)

  • Is This The Life You Want to Lead?

    A harried mom friend of mind sometimes complains that between work and the kids, she doesn’t have a life. Another friend tells me he’ll quit smoking soon. Yet another friend is too busy to take care of his health, he says.  Somehow, it’s as if we’re all waiting to exhale, waiting for the rest of our life to happen, waiting until conditions are just right to lead the life we really want.

    I realized about 12 years ago that my life was not a dress rehearsal, that this was my life and I better start leading it the way I wanted to.  I also realized that I better get serious about my health because I wasn’t going to stay invincible forever.  That’s when I quit smoking, started going on at least one international vacation each year, and stopped missing important events in the lives of those near and dear to me. (more…)

  • Do You Really Need 500 Friends on That Social Network? Is It Time to Unfriend Some People?

    Do You Really Need 500 Friends on That Social Network? Is It Time to Unfriend Some People?

    Giving someone the blowoff or the kissoffI was talking to one of the Cat Herders (Project Manager) at Matrix Group today.  She said she was trimming her Facebook friend list and unfriending some people.  Unfriending.  It sounds so… ummmm… unfriendly.

    Facebook says that the average user has 130 friends but I know people who have hundreds, even thousands of friends.  500 friends?  I can’t imagine many people who have that many friends with whom they would willingly share personal updates, photos, even their full birthday.  So I asked around and got some good insight into the friending and unfriending business.  These findings don’t represent a large group, just my friends! 🙂

    • There is a group of Facebook users who will accept friend requests from anyone and who actively try to expand their friend network.
    • There is another group that views Facebook as a place where they can communicate freely so they only connect with true friends.  For these folks, Facebook is a place for personal communications, often about self, family, kids, friends.
    • There was a general consensus that the new Facebook homepage, which splits updates between News Feed and View Live Feed, makes it harder to see updates from your entire network of friends, which makes it more challenging to have a large network.
    • Many people have been cleaning up their lists on Facebook, Twitter, and other social network recently.  They’re actively unfriending people so they can manage the communications and flood of updates.
    • Even if  a person has a large network on a platform like Facebook, they are more than likely only interacting with a small subset of friends. Indeed, the Facebook sociologist says that no matter how large their friend network, Facebook users tend to “comment on stuff from only about 5-10% of their Facebook friends.”

    (more…)

  • PSERS Health Options Program Member Portal

    PSERS Health Options Program Member Portal

    Matrix Group recently worked with Pennsylvania’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System’s (PSERS) Health Options Program (HOP) to launch a member portal. For the first time, PSERS wanted to allow plan members to login to a member portal and review their medical statements online.

    Our work included:

    • A member portal that allows members to create a profile, login and retrieve a lost password.
    • A secure database and portal that ties together information from multiple sources to produce personalized statements.
    • Single sign on authentication for members to view their medical plans and claims under one interface without separate passwords

    Visit the HOP Benefits Web site and Member Portal

  • In the Event That Miss Universe is Unable to Serve…

    In the Event That Miss Universe is Unable to Serve…

    Miss UniverseI haven’t watched a Miss Universe pageant in a long time, but a part of the program will stay with me forever:  the part where Bob Barker says to the 1st runner up something along the lines of:  In the event that Miss Universe is unable to serve, you will take the crown.

    What on earth does the Miss Universe pageant have to do with running a business?

    Well, it turns out that if you run a business long enough, no matter how successful you, there are times when you don’t take home the prize.  I can remember deals where we came soooo close to winning the account, but ultimately, we came in second place, or 1st runner up.

    But unlike a Miss Universe pageant, the 1st runner up in business often has a good chance of taking the prize when:  the first choice can’t deliver, the client’s needs outpace the capabilities of the selected vendor, or a change in staffing triggers a review of the account and the contracts.

    When Matrix Group comes in second, yes, it totally sucks, but here’s what we try and do: (more…)

  • Goodwill Industries Web site Redesign

    Goodwill Industries Web site Redesign

    Matrix Group collaborated with Goodwill Industries International, Inc. to launch a redesigned public Web site. The goal of the redesign was to emphasize Goodwill’s community-based programs and to better serve its current audience of shoppers, job seekers and funders of employment.

    Our work included:

    • An updated appearance and user-friendly, color coded navigation.
    • Integration of the Goodwill locator, a tool allowing users to filter results by type of location.
    • Creation and incorporation of user-friendly icons to show Goodwill’s full service offerings.
    • The Web site serves as one of the primary communication tools to promote events, employment opportunities and ways to donate.

    Visit Goodwill Industries International

  • Which Came First? Design or Content? Neither, They Need to be Hatched at the Same Time

    Which Came First? Design or Content? Neither, They Need to be Hatched at the Same Time

    Chicken and EggThere is an ongoing discussion at Matrix Group about content and Web design.

    One camp says that clients need to have all of their content prepped and ready to go before design on a Web site even begins.  The other camp says this view is not realistic, content is always behind, and clients often need the design to inspire them to update their content.

    So which view is right?  I actually think that both sides are right.  But I think the question is misdirected.  The real question is: how do we make content more important, earlier in the Web site design and development process?

    Here’s something every Web design and development firm knows:  Content is often the responsibility of the client, it’s often delayed, and it’s the most common reason for delayed launches. A List Apart has a whole section on their site devoted to content strategy.  I love Bronwyn Jones’ article on how good design is not possible without good writing.  And I think Erin Kissane is on to something when she discusses content templates (not design templates) as a way to help subject matter experts put their knowledge down on paper.

    Here is what I have learned about content, the importance of content to design, and coaxing good content out of clients: (more…)

  • I Did It! I Got My Ham Radio License!

    I Did It! I Got My Ham Radio License!

    Maki transmitting via Morse Code during ham radio eventA couple of months ago, I blogged about how my 5-year old son challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and get my ham radio license.  Wanting to set a good example, I decided to go for it.  On Saturday, October 10, after weeks of studying, I passed the Technician exam! I was assigned the call sign KJ4PSD but I successfully applied for, and was assigned, a vanity call sign – KA4JMP.

    So what does it mean to have my ham radio license? Amateur radio, also called ham radio, was created by the FCC to create a pool of volunteers that can provide assistance during emergencies, disasters and public events.  Ham radio also has a less serious face.  Ham radio is meant to foster international goodwill and encourage learning about telecommunications and electronics.

    (more…)

  • Recruiting Top Job Candidates Through the Barry Deutsch Method

    Recruiting Top Job Candidates Through the Barry Deutsch Method

    Needle in a HaystackA few years ago, Matrix Group was looking for a Network Administrator. We had been looking for 18 months with no success.  The situation was bleak. The candidates coming in were awful, my team was overworked and desperate to make a hire, and recruiters were failing us miserably.

    Then I attended a presentation by Barry Deutsch, CEO of Impact Hiring Solutions, an executive search firm.  Barry’s presentation had such an impact on me and my company that Barry Deutsch is now a verb at Matrix Group.

    When a job announcement is not pulling in the candidates we need, I tell my staff to “Barry Deutsch” the description.

    Barry says that the top hiring mistakes companies make are:

    • Failing to define the job properly, i.e., not defining what will represent success in the job.
    • Falling victim to first impressions, i.e., the candidate looks good, talks well, she must be terrific.
    • Desperation hiring, i.e., making an offer because you think it’s better to hire someone, anyone.
    • Not asking deep and penetrating questions during the interview. This happens because managers don’t know how to conduct success-based interviews or lob softballs at the candidate because they “like” them.
    • Failing to check references deeply. Many companies skip reference checks or don’t properly validate the claims by candidates. And if a candidate can’t provide references, RUN!

    Ultimately, we all want to hire and retain top talent.  Here is what Barry has to say about top talent: (more…)