“It was like this sales woman was following me all over the store. I told her I didn’t want any help, but she didn’t listen to me,” commented my co-worker John Q. “She was always right on me, constantly looking over my shoulder. I half expected her to come into the dressing room and help me into my underwear!”

Wow… creepy.

Sound bizarre? It’s a real experience, though in the virtual world. John was shopping online at an ecommerce site and was…

...continue to read "Measuring the “Piss-Off Factor”"

Way too many conversion rate optimization projects are coming up empty. Companies feel they work too hard for too little return.

Most conversion rate optimizations efforts are focused on pages and elements (we’ve identified over 1,000 variables) but don’t focus on the entire persuasion scenario. That’s how people cheat themselves. Most organizations face structural issues that prevent them from recognizing or correcting the problems. They simply optimize blindly.

Perhaps if I explain the issue, this column will help some smart CEO or…

...continue to read "Conversion Rate Optimization, Upside Down"

Web developers like to say it. Designers love to say it. Web execs feel good saying it to justify investing as little as possible–and in the lowest quality content they can get away with.

People Don’t Read Online? Bull-crap!

If only I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that statement, I’d make Bill Gates look like a pauper. Think about it. What’s the first thing most people do when they get online… read their email. What’s better yet, new research…

...continue to read "The Web’s Old Wives Tale: People Don’t Read Online"

The folks over at JibJab are at it again Check out their newest video “What We Call The News.”

Sometimes humor has to stretch the truth to be funny, the sad part is that on this topic they don’t. It’s been said that we get the government we deserve. Do we also get the journalism we deserve?

...continue to read "What We Call The News"

Wired News reports that “Microsoft Sends Secret Dossier on Reporter, To Reporter“–there’s a lot more details there and it’s a fun read. Microsoft really needs to buy a copy of How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend you do.

...continue to read "From The Stupid Persuasion Techniques File: Microsoft Again…"

If I were allowed to share only three words to describe what Bert Decker is all about, there they are.

I had the privilege of spending a few hours catching up with Bert in his hometown of San Francisco. Bert’s been busy. He’s just agreed to be one of the judges of the World’s Best Presentation contest with Guy Kawasaki, Garr Reynolds and Jerry Weisman. He’s coaching quite a few execs and organizations on how to create communications experience. What we do for marketing…

...continue to read "Present, Persuade, Powerful…"

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of presenting a seminar on the topic of marketing to women, to the National Association of School Music Dealers. During the segment on the importance of effective websites, a participant raised his hand. “We don’t have e-commerce on our website,” he said. “If we’re not selling online, is it really important to invest in a good website?”

I could have given several answers, but with limited time, I simply presented him with one statistic.…

...continue to read "Are Websites Just for ECommerce?"

No, I’m not trying to be offensive.

I’ll let Guy Kawasaki explain – ARSE: The Asshole Rating Self Exam

Here are some of Guy’s observations.

In case you’re wondering, I scored a two. I hope my co-workers agree. What did you score?

...continue to read "Are You a Certified A$$hole?"

More than ever, it’s become clear that the scope of media distribution has changed–even eroded–some our most treasured entertainment models.

But whose obituary should we read first? Newspapers, Magazines, Music, or Video… Hmm… How about all four, thanks to Chief Blogging Optimist, Don Dodge, whose Next Big Thing blog gives us some in-depth research with a light garnish of buzz.

Linking around the blogosphere, Dodge shows us that:

Robert Scoble declares newspapers are dead. PaidContent says InfoWorld Magazine is dead. TechMeme has collected lots of…

...continue to read "Life Offline is Dead?"

Search Engine Watch’s Eric Enge recently interviewed our own Bryan Eisenberg about how we use Persuasion Architecture™ to plan, measure, and optimize the customer experience–online, offline, and across channels.

In the interview, Bryan talks about his past life as a social worker, founding Future Now when “accountable online marketing” was considered laughable, and how to speak to customers and online visitors on their own terms (the only terms they’ll accept).

...continue to read "Bryan Eisenberg on Persuasion & Customer Focus"