Bramblog

Great list of pointers to follow when writing specifically for social media sites.  Very fickle readers, is key #1.

1)      Eye catching titles

2)      Image(s) above the fold

3)      Short, easy, scannable content

4)      Don’t make pages dead-ends.  Include links at the end.

5)      Don’t be a grinch – link to sites you’re not related to.

6)      Be topical & time sensitive.

7)      Solve someone’s problem.

      Use buttons/widgets to encourage linking/voting

9)      Everyone loves “top 10″ lists

10)  Make your list go to “11″

This was a great session regarding optimizing your e-commerce site for humans.  Most of the information is very intuitive, but it’s still good to read through, and audit your site to make sure it follows.  There’s a couple of analytics & site submission tidbits here, as well.

1)      Run a Google Analytics “Site Search” Report

                  a.       Google Analytics > Content > Site Search 

2)      Optimize your “no results page”

a.       No Results! No Problem!  Here are our top sellers!

3)      Build Visitor Trust

a.       Footer

                                                               i.      Years in business

                                                             ii.      Hacker Safe – tested daily

                                                            iii.      Label CC’s you accept

                                                           iv.      Must include 800 # 

b.      Checkout

                                                               i.      Satisfaction Guarantee

                                                             ii.      Shipping Cost & Policy

                                                            iii.      Secure Shopping

                                                           iv.      Privacy

      4)      Error Message Relay – make sure you’re notified of errors 

5)      Use lightboxes – when someone scrolls over, it pops up

6)      Submit to Froogle shopping feed & MSN Live

We were out last night for my fiancee’s friend’s 30th birthday and got a table at Speakeasy.  Speakeasy’s not really a “fancy” bar…it’s the type of place that has 80′s cover bands, which they had that night.  I don’t remember the band’s name, but they rawcked.  They all had awesome 80′s hair, and the guitarist looked exactly like Stephen Adler from GnR.

Anyways, I’ve noticed this before, but I really noticed last night that bottle service makes tons of sense if you don’t know how to do simple math.  There were around 8 of us, and a couple of people wanted to order a bottle.  I made it very clear that I prefer to drink what I want, and like having a bartender mix my drinks.  Here’s what went on in my head:

• 1 Bottle of Grey Goose via bottle service = $275
• There are 22 drinks in a bottle (at 1.5 oz pours)
• $275/22 = just over $13/drink
• The bar sells a grey goose drink for $7

Smart people who buy bottle service pay just under twice what the drinks would typically cost.  Actually, they pay more than that because the bartenders will typically pour a 2 oz drink if you’re nice to them.  So, bottle service makes lots of sense under the following scenarios:

1. You get pleasure out of wasting money.
2. You want others to think that you have so much money that you don’t pay attention to what you buy.
3. You need a tax write off (not very efficient, though, b/c you can only write off 50% of entertainment expenses – you’re better off buying a new computer and throwing it out the window immediately.)
4. You’re overwhelmed by decisions and don’t want options.
5. You REALLY like making your own drinks.
6. The ONLY way you’ll get a table is to buy a bottle, and you REALLY want a table (think Vegas.)

I’m not adamantly against bottle service in all situations.  #6 is really the only scenario that would apply to me, and probably only a couple of times in my life.  I guess if you really want to celebrate something, and you hate champagne and shots, bottle service could also make sense.  I guess.