February, 2009

Uncategorized — 3 Comments
10
Feb 09

The infamous GDrive

The Google Drive, or “GDrive”, could kill off the desktop computer, which relies on a powerful hard drive. Instead a user’s personal files and operating system could be stored on Google’s own servers and accessed via the internet. Or so i have been readeing the last past weeks.

The long-rumoured GDrive is expected to be launched this year and is beeing described it as “the most anticipated Google product so far”. It is seen as a paradigm shift away from Microsoft’s Windows operating system in favour of “cloud computing”.

The GDrive would follow this logic to its conclusion by shifting the contents of a user’s hard drive to the Google servers. The PC would be a simpler, cheaper device acting as a portal to the web, perhaps via an adaptation of Google’s operating system for mobile phones, Android.

What do you think? Will we get to the point where our computer will be more likely software rather than hardware?

Advertising — No Comments
9
Feb 09

The psychology behind it all

For people that use the internet frequently it is easy to identify valuable websites from the rest.  When you see a website for the first time you make an instant judgement on its quality and relevance. This first impression is then carried over to other parts of the website, like content and professionalism.

When you break it down, web design is simply the manipulation of content and images on a website to appeal to the perceptions of a target audience. The psychology community has conducted studies since the early days of the internet. Take a look at the Barack Obama website – for me, the attraction was instant!  And I can’t see that website looking as good if it were in any other colour.

All humans have a psychological need to feel secure, and on the internet that need is multiplied considerably. Taking this into account, websites must incite a feeling of security within a visitor before they will take any action on your website.  There are many ways to accomplish this – disclaimers, privacy policies, brand-name security logos, etc – but the best way is to simply be upfront about all aspects of your website, product or business.

Pay attention in the first few seconds of visiting a new website and take note of why you like it and what they have done that is effective. After a while you will begin to pick up smaller details which is really what online marketing and web design is all about.

Uncategorized — 2 Comments
9
Feb 09

Fire the Client From Hell

If you get a haircut and you don’t like it, you still pay. If you get a massage, and it was a crappy one, you still pay. If you eat at a restaurant and the food just wasn’t what you were hoping for, you still pay. Hotel rooms, car washes, concerts… The same concept applies for creative services.

I assume the client reviewed my portfolio before he/she hired you.  (If they didn’t, they’re not a smart consumer, which isn’t my fault.) They should know i would produce work in the same style and of the same quality. But whay do i do in case on of the clients doesn’t like my work? How can you, somehow put in the breif a section that helps you find out more about the type of person you are dealing with?