Facebook Pushing Virtual Gifts

Facebook hasn’t been only an upgrade for me from Friendster but it’s been a way for me to keep in close contact with my friends. So much so, I’m really grateful for its birthday reminders – though hidden on the right side.

Whenever a friend’s birthday is today, I’d visit their wall to post a simple but thoughtful birthday greeting to them. During this time, Facebook upgraded a birthday person’s wall as an optional virtual gift purchase. I’ve always ignored it because I see no value of a virtual gift.

Facebook Plays Hardball

I think Facebook knew many users (especially us kiam-sap “selfish” Malaysians) weren’t purchasing vritual gifts often. So they upgraded the system yet again.

This time, they renamed the “share” button to “buy gift”. I was so used to typing into the wall and clicking share that I was shocked to find this.

The only way now you can get around this is by closing this option. Forcing you to click the “X” on the box so it becomes a normal wall message.

Whether it’s a user experience upgrade to improve their virtual gift options, I personally doubt it. But what I know is, they’ve made it even more cumbersome to wish my friends happy birthday by having to close the option first before sharing it.

Why Facebook? Why?

MYNIC Finally Upgrades The System

I just got the email notification from MYNIC. They are finally improving their system in key areas based on the opinions and comments from their customers. Exactly who these customers are I wouldn’t know, but with the new system:

• a Registrant can apply for multiple domain names in one submission.
• a Registrant may register up to 5 years
• a Contact Person with the same Contact Code can perform multiple domain name transaction such as modification, deletion and transfer.
• a domain name to be transferred to a new Registrant, is required to make payment before it is registered.

The new system will be implemented and launched on February 1, 2010.

Now, I really welcome the upgrade and really hope it’s an improvement. Because last I remember having to use MYNIC for any administration, I found:

1. It’s troublesome to login and edit the domain.
2. There’s too many things to remember from:
   • Registration number
   • MYNIC ID
   • Domain ID
   • Technical ID…you get the picture.
3. You’re forced to register with 3rd parties instead of direct.
4. The manual or help documents don’t really help much.

And a whole lot more of usability factors which I’ve peeves with. Last I wrote about MYNIC, I reviewed how their new website launch missed improving many key areas in the first place.

What would you like to see improved in MYNIC’s system?

RSS Numbers Schnumbers

When Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds first came, everyone pushed for subscribers like how the Internet providers and mobile providers here push during PC Fair.

Everyone did their best to draw attention to the RSS subscription. Many did (and still do) promote it via:

• Large RSS icons or buttons.
• Post headers or footers.

During this time, bloggers who gained subscribers of more than 1000 RSS subscribers were proud to publicized the figures on their blog. However, I’ve a strong feeling this movement is changing. Thanks to social media.

When I recently read TechCrunch, I noticed they’ve now humbly placed their badge of subscribers in the footer.

As I said, thanks to social media the focus now isn’t how many subscribers do you have. But how interesting and how active is content. I’m slowly seeing more Malaysian bloggers create their own Facebook fan pages now.

Is it a good thing? Maybe. Is it a bad thing? Possibly.

At the end of the day, numbers schnumbers. It’s how effectively are you using the tools.

Why Web Designers are Mistaken for Computer Technicians

Stereotypes and misconceptions exist because people make assumptions – so if you’re seen working with a computer, people take it for granted that you’re a programmer who knows a lot about software or a technician who takes care of the hardware issues that crop up from time to time.

What they do not realize is that there are a wide variety of jobs that span the field of computer science, and that today, the computer is a ubiquitous tool that is used in every sphere of life. In general, web designers are mistaken for computer technicians, especially in places where the awareness of the difference between the two jobs is not high. This is because:

• They don’t understand computers: If you’re seen to be working on a computer, and if people around you don’t understand what you do for a living, they tend to assume that you’re a computer technician. It’s not that they’re being deliberately obtuse; it’s just that it’s easier for them to associate you with the only career they know related to computers rather than try to grasp the concepts of web design.
• Some employers don’t differentiate the job designations clearly: In some organizations, there is no clear demarcation between the roles of computer technicians and web designers. It’s just one or two people who are responsible for all their computer-related tasks. So people associated with such smaller organizations are likely to confuse a web designer for a computer technician, or just use the latter term for the former because they don’t really differentiate between the two.
• Some web designers don’t really design: And finally, the worst possible reason for this misconception is the attitude of some web designers themselves. They are not really designers in the true sense of the word. Rather, they know a little HTML and a few operations using Photoshop or Dreamweaver, and they call themselves web designers. In fact, they just tinker around with websites that already exist, add unnecessary effects to them, and think that they’ve actually done a designer’s work. They’re really not designers, and people who know this, tend to call them what they really are – computer technicians.

In general, misconceptions tend to arise when there is a low level of awareness, so if efforts are made to educate people on what it is that web designers really do, these assumptions will disappear.

This guest post is contributed by Barbara Williams, she writes on the topic of Computer Technician Programs. Email her at: barbara.williams07@gmail.com.

Danny: Barbara really has a knack for writing and all I did was tell her what the theme of the post should be. Do let her know what you thought of her article in the comments.

Provide Information Customers Want

Like you, customers have their own objectives when they visit your website. It could be to find a product, find a service, learn about you or even, to only get your contact details.

But, what if you had too much trouble finding the information or understanding it?

Will you refer your colleagues or friends this website? Maybe. Probably. Possibly. Well, stop it.

Start providing information your customers want and can find easily in your website. Start a sitemap.

You’re halfway to design a website made for users.