Should you have listened to more advice? [Archive]

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darren atkinson

23rd May 2007, 15:30

Hi all,

Just published this article on my new 'blog' ;-)

http://www.darrenatkinson.co.uk/blog/start-ups-how-to-waste-time-money-and-energy/

Check it out, could you benefit from thinking about your concept a little more?

RedEvo

23rd May 2007, 18:09

Well worth a read!

Thanks

d

Blush

23rd May 2007, 23:42

Good article:)

Cornish Steve

24th May 2007, 00:24

Maybe one of the lessons to take away from this is that sincerity counts for nothing when it comes to a successful business. We may wish people success because of all the hard work they put in, but the business will fail without a rock-solid business case, a compelling value proposition, and a winning strategy.

advice

24th May 2007, 07:31

Hi Darren,

I was drawn to read this article because of the comments above. Very well written and interesting article (you should publish it more widely). Obviously I'm attempting to develop a business in a different area but I could relate to a lot of that outlined. I certainly have spent a lot of time and effort on aspects that I would have been better farming out BUT I did learn quite a bit from doing this (and I didn't have the money to pay anyone else). Certainly, I am concerned in case my business doesn't work out BUT I have never been a risk taker and believe this has been to my detriment in many areas of life and so I'm giving it my best shot... would seriously regret it if I didn't and that would be the real waste.

A1 article and most definitely very thought provoking.

Well done!

Dawn

sirearl

24th May 2007, 09:58

Nice article Darren ,as I have always said price is nearly all on the internet you got to be 10p cheaper than your competitors

naughtykittens

24th May 2007, 10:00

OP

Maybe worth posting on the business forums on ebay

Each day, theres always people asking about starting a website and the ones which are running, people wondering why noone is buying. Most look terrible , you just want to laugh but don't because some poor sole puts alot of work into it but still hasn't twigged it looks like a quick mockup.

Spot on about Amazon. Amount of money ive spent on there over the last few years is scary... and I wouldnt think twice about spending it elsewhere on a site which I don't know anything about, who runs it or if i can trust them or at least their checkout process isn't flawed as they don't have a proper designer or support behind them

Rob

advice

24th May 2007, 10:07

Most look terrible, you just want to laugh but don't because some poor sole puts alot of work into it but still hasn't twigged it looks like a quick mockup. Rob

Been there, done that and have the red face :redface: to prove it! You live and learn...and making mistakes is part of that.

SillyJokes

24th May 2007, 11:57

I liked your article and agree that it certainly describes a commonly seen phenomenon.

Problem is, people don't get advice about their website from friends and family that is of any value, partly because if the advice is negative about the website the site owner doesn't take it on board, assuming that Auntie Freda is not computer savvy so what would she know?

In actual fact she knows enough to buy online from Tesco and Amazon, so why not you?

I see a HUGE market for someone to come in with cut price usability assessments for sites like the one you describe. I'm talking about a basic assessment that costs something like £500 and which could be rattled out in a couple of hours using templates. This could give really valuable advice that will increase a website's business and would be more affordable than the full on usability tests more commonly known about that start at about £6K.

Moreover, if someone paid for the valuable advice which is frequently given out here, they might actually pay attention to it and get some benefit.

How many sites have we commented on here that still look the same a year later? Guess why I stopped commenting on sites?

advice

24th May 2007, 12:04

Hi SillyJokes,

That's a pity that you've stopped commenting on sites.

I do intend to learn from the feedback I have received but will need to work with general themes that are coming back (of which there are many), rather than specific comments from individuals (as it may just reflect their personal taste).

The point is, I have appreciated the feedback and would like to thank those that took the time to give it.

Kind regards,

Dawn

darren atkinson

24th May 2007, 12:14

Hi all,

Thanks for the great comments about the article!

SillyJokes: That is a good idea about cut price usability tests. Not everyone can afford a visit by Jakob Nielsen.

I have also found many examples of people who ask for a site review then never seem to do anything with the advice.

Thanks again everyone, I just hope I can keep up the standard of writing for my next blog posts...

Kind regards

Darren

sirearl

24th May 2007, 12:26

SillyJokes: That is a good idea about cut price usability tests. Not everyone can afford a visit by Jakob Nielsen.

Jakob who ?:) Oh yes have to disqualify his opinions on the grounds that "he protest to much" and the fact that he is a yank.

the UK and the usa 2 nations seperated by a common language :|

SillyJokes

24th May 2007, 12:37

Hi SillyJokes,

I do intend to learn from the feedback I have received but will need to work with general themes that are coming back (of which there are many), rather than specific comments from individuals (as it may just reflect their personal taste).

In fact even Jacob Neilson believes you will get all the comments you need to 85% improve your usability with just 5 or 6 test subjects.

Another thing about testing though, is that you need to keep doing it, as any changes you make will have unexpected knock on effects.

Anyhoo, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I don't know as much as I would like about usability but I am quite passionate about it and see it as more important than SEO and PPC and all the linking in the world because all that is pointless if your site sucks.

sirearl

24th May 2007, 12:54

In fact even Jacob Neilson believes you will get all the comments you need to 85% improve your usability with just 5 or 6 test subjects.

Another thing about testing though, is that you need to keep doing it, as any changes you make will have unexpected knock on effects.

Anyhoo, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I don't know as much as I would like about usability but I am quite passionate about it and see it as more important than SEO and PPC and all the linking in the world because all that is pointless if your site sucks.

Er Mr Neilson gets paid his 10 to 20 thousand bucks per day for his SEO abilities.not his site design or usability the rest is padding .If you ain't on page one ,in general you ain't going very far :)

darren atkinson

24th May 2007, 12:58

Er Mr Neilson gets paid his 10 to 20 thousand bucks per day for his SEO abilities.not his site design or usability the rest is padding .If you ain't on page one ,in general you ain't going very far :)

Are we talking about the same guy? http://www.useit.com/ and http://www.nngroup.com/

I probably wouldn't describe his usability services as 'padding'.

Darren

Hedgehog Toys

24th May 2007, 13:26

Nice article Darren ,as I have always said price is nearly all on the internet you got to be 10p cheaper than your competitors

Not always true as some products are 'price fixed' so you have to compete on customer service sometimes :)

Hedgehog Toys

24th May 2007, 13:29

sirearl

24th May 2007, 13:36

Are we talking about the same guy? http://www.useit.com/ and http://www.nngroup.com/

I probably wouldn't describe his usability services as 'padding'.

Darren

Er I think so Jakob Nielson an american SEO Guru ?

not knocking his usability service as usefull just making the point that he gets paid the big bucks for his SEO as it is by far the most important element in a website that is selling online

darren atkinson

24th May 2007, 14:37

Er I think so Jakob Nielson an american SEO Guru ?

not knocking his usability service as usefull just making the point that he gets paid the big bucks for his SEO as it is by far the most important element in a website that is selling online

I'd be interested in reading more about JN's SEO services but couldn't seem to find anything about them at all on the web.

There were quite a few SEO blogs criticising his views on Google, SEO and Web 2.0 though...

Could you be so kind as to point me in the right direction for that info?

Top Hat

24th May 2007, 19:15

Jakob Nielsen is usability expert, nothing to do with SEO (doesn't even offer SEO as far as I can tell)

http://www.useit.com/jakob/

sirearl

24th May 2007, 20:56

OOps my mistake just asumed he was an SEO if he charges 10 to 20 thousand bucks a day ,Please tell me exactly what he does,cause I'll have some of that.:)

SillyJokes

25th May 2007, 11:21

little_stork

25th May 2007, 19:34

great article Darren I have wasted soooooooooooo much money in the past. It has made me question everything I do now. Still advice from one consultant differs to the next so as a small business i am always sceptical because at the end of it they are also a business. Maybe not a good way to view this??
Tracey