Meryl's Notes Blog

The new issue of Digital Web Magazine is up! I like to take my time reading it by reading one article a day or every few days to last me the whole month. I started with this month’s feature: Measuring User Experience by Christopher Schmitt. One thing I don’t like about working in processes is having to create metrics. Once the metrics are created, then I can handle it since it’s all math. Creating the formula is the challenge. Christopher’s approach makes it look easy and it is not overwhelming like some of those show-off PhD-style articles. He steps through it by looking at log statistics, defining goals, and creating measurable objectives. It’s easy to confuse the definition of goals and objectives and the article clarifies the difference.

When reviewing logs, Schmitt mentions that hits don’t tell you the whole story. Web sites with 20 graphics on a page will make the “visitor count” look bigger than it really is because each graphic is counted as a hit — not when ONE user comes to your site. Yeah, this may be old news… but if it really was old news, then why do we still see counters on Web sites?

Kudos to Nick Finck for a beautiful Digital Web cover page. I believe it appropriately captures recent events and quotes one of the best articles written about the tragedy.

Aerial photo of Ground Zero.

Gonna save the other articles for another day… not to worry, Ben, I’ll read yours.

More photos from Texas A&M’s Red White and Blue Out game plus an article. Gig’em!

Are you a writer who is having trouble sleeping? Could this be why?