Mar 29 2008
interest and engagement
When browsing on the web, we are in this constant search for things that engage us, things that bring us into the site, in a way that intrigues us.
As human beings, searching for the next big thing or the next little bit of excitement or happiness is natural. We do it all the time from consumer products, to food items.
Websites, are no different. No one will return to a site that lacks in fresh content unles they’re studying its design.
Half the sites I’ve ever bookmarked, I never visit because the ones I do frequent, appear in the address bar within typing a few characters.
For me, its as follows:
a- amazon
t- techcrunch
m- myspace/mail
f- facebook/freelanceswitch
c- for connsyde/contributedesign
d- dailyslurp
s- springwise
Thats about it. Everyday I check and look over those sites. When I am not looking over these areas, I’m aimlessly plugging away from link to link to find that next big bit of excitement to keep me busy and active while I’m trolling away on the laptop.
The sites I’ve bookmarked, I have so for the reason of SOMETHING I wanted to look over later there. Whether I was inspired by the site’s design, or it was such a unique idea that I didn’t want to forget it.
Sites that will best succeed offer 2 clear things to the user: interest and engagement. Interesting sites that can engage the user far outweigh those that don’t.
The reason behind the social networking BOOM of the 2000s- those basic premises.
The current boom in site trends- niche social networking. Users have become accustom to the catch-all social sites, at this point, having quenched that thirst they now yearn for more…not only tons of people but tons of people with the same ideals and interests.
I’m not going the way of dating sites, but business sites, mom’s sites, sporting sites, cancer survivors, disabled individuals.
Many of these areas are rising, all of them touched to some degree. Linkedin has to be my favorite for the moment. I go there at least once a week to see if there are any new individuals I can connect with professionally.
Users will find what they are looking for, and its up to you to engage and interest them into not only coming, but coming back.
When browsing on the web, we are in this constant search for things that engage us, things that bring us into the site, in a way that intrigues us.
As human beings, searching for the next big thing or the next little bit of excitement or happiness is natural. We do it all the time from consumer products, to food items.
Websites, are no different. No one will return to a site that lacks in fresh content unles they’re studying its design.
Half the sites I’ve ever bookmarked, I never visit because the ones I do frequent, appear in the address bar within typing a few characters.
For me, its as follows:
a- amazon
t- techcrunch
m- myspace/mail
f- facebook/freelanceswitch
c- for connsyde/contributedesign
d- dailyslurp
s- springwise
Thats about it. Everyday I check and look over those sites. When I am not looking over these areas, I’m aimlessly plugging away from link to link to find that next big bit of excitement to keep me busy and active while I’m trolling away on the laptop.
The sites I’ve bookmarked, I have so for the reason of SOMETHING I wanted to look over later there. Whether I was inspired by the site’s design, or it was such a unique idea that I didn’t want to forget it.
Sites that will best succeed offer 2 clear things to the user: interest and engagement. Interesting sites that can engage the user far outweigh those that don’t.
The reason behind the social networking BOOM of the 2000s- those basic premises.
The current boom in site trends- niche social networking. Users have become accustom to the catch-all social sites, at this point, having quenched that thirst they now yearn for more…not only tons of people but tons of people with the same ideals and interests.
I’m not going the way of dating sites, but business sites, mom’s sites, sporting sites, cancer survivors, disabled individuals.
Many of these areas are rising, all of them touched to some degree. Linkedin has to be my favorite for the moment. I go there at least once a week to see if there are any new individuals I can connect with professionally.
Users will find what they are looking for, and its up to you to engage and interest them into not only coming, but coming back.