Audience Experience

Dear U.S. Department of Student Loans, Since you offered me financial advice through a "noreply@" email, I want to make sure that my response gets to you in a timely fashion. The actual subject line of the email was: " Repay your federal student loan based on your income " So what if someone's income is Zero? I think that's where I was going with my title here.  The first payment will be zero (but does it count as a "payment", and does that count as "money"?) And for those of us who are English Majors, "your initial payment could be __ per month" is a clear redundancy anyway.  (Not that you were paying attention.) "When you make payments based on your income, your loan is paid off over a longer period of time than the standard plan. While this reduces your monthly payment amount, it also increases the total amount you pay overall." Again, thanks Federal Government for making things easy!! Can you maybe e...

I just got an email request to do a survey from a FAVORITE museum.  They sent me an email, addressed me as "Dear Friend". What could go wrong? They said it would take 15 minutes.  (Which is a LOT.  A lot for anyone.  Anything more than 5 minutes is a lot.)  It took longer than 15 minutes.  I lost track when the Progress Bar hadn't moved beyond the half way point after I answered a lot of questions. I left the tab open all day.  Checked in, did a few more answers every now and then.  Not even sure if it mattered after 5 hours.  When I got to the "Just a few quick demographic questions"  (again, not past the halfway mark on the Progress Bar). What got to me was the BAD design of the survey.  In terms of actions and GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods and Selections) which is essentially a way to measure how long it takes to go from a mouse to a keyboard.  If you add it up, it matters.  Especially if you have a survey wit...

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...

So, 2 sales men show up at your door.  They offer the pitch and you accept, why not switch cable companies?  They tell you how smooth the transition will be.  The American Way of Progress.  Right? And then you fall through the cracks. Schedule a date, and then reschedule according to your schedule.  No harm, no foul. Right? Company A, whom you've had for 30 years, switches off the phone line on the original date.  Why?  Because the Cable company declared they were taking over service as of that date.  No follow up phone call from Company A to confirm this.  Nevermind you were told that YOU would have to be the one to call to cancel. Company B, your current service provider (cable, internet and PHONE) is nowhere to be found.  Especially when asked about the PHONE part of the deal. Company C, (the giant conglomerate you have agreed to) can move the date of the new install up.  Leaving your 72 year old mother without home ph...