Why thanking donors online is powerfulWhy should you thank your online donors? After all once they’ve completed the transaction, surely it doesn’t matter what you do then? Having viewed the Thank you pages on a number of different charity websites, it seems as though many charities are taking this attitude.
Simplicity? Complexity? PersuasionThe ‘C’ word can send shivers down the spine of a UX consultant. I’m not being crass; I’m talking about complexity of course! From the work of Don Norman we know that actually simplicity is complicated. By mapping design to behaviour we can maximise the user experience, an element of that is making sure they aren’t overwhelmed.
Positive UX: Optimal user experience is more than the absence of usability issuesThe study of well-being focuses on the topics of positive psychological functioning and experience. It has captured the interest of moral philosophers for centuries. In this article I draw parallels between the fields of well-being and UX in order to illustrate the factors that define and foster ‘Positive UX’ and the implications this may have on measuring good experience with the web.
I think, therefore I am (Altruistic)In my previous article I looked at what influences sharing using a model that looked at reciprocity and a desire to share. I compared my model to the work of Whitlock, Davis and Yeaman; by modifying sharing types that determine how likely you are to share. These are Altruist, Discriminator and Cheaters. Unlike Whitlock, Davis and Yeaman I believe they are more like states that we can cycle through, in and out.
The meaning dimensionThis is the second article in a series I’m writing about meaning. In my previous article I introduced the critical importance of designing for meaning and how it can be applied to help us deliver a superior user experience. Essentially, by focusing on meaning we are centering on the many significant psychological factors that motivate us and engage us at an emotional level.
Meaning is everything so let’s design for it!Meaning is as important as the oxygen we need to breathe or the water we need for cellular life to function. It is essential and defines our very humanity and without it we are totally lost because life feels meaningless without it! Our uniqueness as a conscious animal – our ability to question, to consider, and to know represents the very foundation on which our own humanity is defined! Nothing can be more important than meaning and nothing will ever be more important for any of us, anywhere: meaning is everything!
Promoting committed giving onlineWith government funding for charity programs being cut, many charities are currently looking at increasing their income from individual giving. However the current economic climate means that people are less willing to give their spare money to charity – charities have to work harder to make their case.
Online donations are one source of individual giving that can work well. A whole range of marketing campaigns can be used to drive people to your website where they can then quickly and easily make a donation.
Knowledge is power and this is why we shareIn this article I lay the foundations of why I believe people share UX knowledge. I look at three personality types and what influences people to share their knowledge and what makes people think twice about sharing. A model is introduced to try and understand the processes that people go through when deciding to share articles about their own knowledge and experiences.
