Audience Experience

Lately, I've noticed people thanking, begging and just being generally annoying about "Likes" specifically on Facebook. Case Study #1: A singer reaches 25K likes on Facebook.  To reward the followers, a 7 Question Quiz is posted and two (only 2?? Out of 25,000) lucky winners will get a prize.  Maybe a private message or answering a question.  Something that could maybe go out to 25 (!) fans? This actually is less of a "reward" to the fans than a difficult and discouraging assignment.  Side note: the answers are NOT posted on the internet.   Included are questions about previous band members and current band history.  The singer does not maintain his current band site, nor does he link to performers he has played with in the past. The questions may be appropriate to a time/topic involving obscure trivia about the current band.  Maybe immediately prior to an upcoming show.  No mention is made of posting the answers.  Oh, and it should b...

The creepiest and most heartbreaking thing I've seen on "the Facebook" yet.  An insurance company is trolling for "Likes" by offering some money to a lucky winner who happens to be in debt.  Sounds good, right?  Soliciting ideas may unleash creativity during the campaign as well. Here's the page. Here's what they did wrong: 1. They lead with the headline:"WE'RE IN DEEP." So, Mass Mutual, are you REALLY trying to say that you identify with all the souls out there who are in "Deep Shit"?  (Because that's one way it could be interpreted)   As one of the millions who have crushing student loans, I'd be very interested in the "we" part of this statement.  How exactly are they involved-AT ALL? Somehow, unless they were bailed out in the last Financial Crisis, I cannot relate.   2.$1 Trillion Dollars, huh?  Then why are you offering only $20,000.  Oh-wait, they "might reward" you with...

Why is it that there are more boys/men in the growing fields of Science/Technology/Engineering/Math fields than women?  I know lots of cool (feminine) women who grow into self-confident, self-realized uber-nerds that most of us (men or women) only aspire to be in our wildest dreams.  It's a cool life, and frankly should be featured on more reality-shows and celebrity award statuettes. My personal experience is that of commonly being the only woman in a room full of developers.  Sometimes there are issues with it, sometimes not.  I'm sure there's a lot I miss and a lot I imagine.  Some of it has to do with the social ties that encourage team-building in the software development environment.  If you are good enough to bring value to the team, you are a welcome addition. As an additional caveat, a UX person sometimes comes in as an unwelcome interloper.  Someone who is asking for an extra step, and creating more work for the group.  If it's in ...

This is to make a comment about how we handle disasters online.   It's been a bad few months.  Hurricane Sandy, Sandy Hook Shootings and the Mayan Apocalypse. (I'm only putting them in the same category of "internet buzz", rather than according to serious tragedies) The Hurricane had buildup for a few days, maybe a week prior.  During and the tail has been very long, especially the Occupy Sandy piece.  Shootings have a huge "During" moment, and a traumatic few days afterwards.  Then fade. (Sadly or naturally, I'm not about to judge).  And what is essentially a grown-up version of a ghost story by the campfire.  Mayan Apocolypse, end of the world.  Excuse to party.  Now this is a tragedy we can all get behind!  (In a super-cynical, rehearsal-for-thinking-about-our-own mortality sort of way).  And then we will wake up and deal, and forget completely. For decades, television, radio, newspapers and magazines had dictated the cycl...