How you want things…
I have been working in the tech field since 1993, 15 years. One of the things that has been a constant is the varying tastes, styles, preferences and mores of people. Some people want lots of detail, others high level only. Some people want to learn, others just want it done. Some want highly detailed sites, others minimalist.
With all the variations, there are definitely some camps. IE: for most options, people fall into 2-3 major categories. One of the main categories is uniqueness: Some people think their needs are utterly unique, others think their needs are representative of everybody else. Both are wrong.
The important thing is to know what you want. When it comes to web sites and custom software, our job is to take our client’s vision and turn it into reality. We do this by translating needs, vision and dreams into business requirements and then defining a programming spec to those requirements.
My job is translation. And, on good days, I think I am very good at it. 
Clients don’t need to worry about saying the wrong things or controlling the process. I can work through either very vague or quite detailed information and define the requirements in a logical, methodical way. Frankly, the only time it is hard is when a client tries to control the process too much. By that I mean that they won’t let the translation happen. They insist on their words, their work-flow. Often, the results are not very effective from an application stand-point. Luckily, that is very rare.
People want what they want. I know, I am the same way. When working with a web developer or application programmer, just tell them your needs and let them translate it into their own world. If someone says “I need to be able to step in, at any point, to an issue with my customers”, I will start designing a process that includes communication history, change auditing, and alert triggers.
No matter what camp you are in, finding a development team you can communicate with effectively will be the most important part of a successful project. As long as you know your business, we know how to build the infrastructure to support it.
Filed under General, I-Tul | Comment (0)Site Music
Should you have music on your site?
I think music on a web site can be a good idea. It can work with the design to convey the attitude or atmosphere. Generally, I think this benefits sites geared toward consumer or lifestyle choices. IE: if I am in a more relaxed mood I tend to like the music. If I am in a hurry or very task oriented, it is a distraction. Think of the tasks that you work on when you like the radio on and ones where you prefer silence.
A client introduced me to the new Nordstrom’s Designer site and I like the music, i was disappointed when it stopped when I started to browse. On the other hand, the Newsweek site starts playing a video when you open the home page which I find rather jarring most off the time.
So, like most things in life, it all depends on the circumstances and the execution. If you have a more targeted market and the experience will be improved with more ambiance, then music can be great. If you are trying to attract a wide audience and are more business oriented, then it may be better to pass.
What is your favorite use of music on the web? Let me know by clicking “comments below”.
-Amanda Hart
Filed under I-Tul, Marketing | Comment (0)