Kristen Havens: Writer, Ghostwriter, Developmental Editor – Los Angeles, CA
Note: This post was originally published on 563media.com in 2012.
If you have a business website, it needs to be tested for usability, preferably by someone who isn’t 100% familiar with your business.
Here at 563 Media, we often work with small companies and individuals who are sure their websites are telling clear stories about what they intend to accomplish, what they’re selling, or where their companies would like to go in the future.
“I’d like an everything bagel with lox and. . .what?”
“Sorry. We just ’86ed the everything bagel.”
“Okay. How about one of your new spinach bagels?”
“. . .”
“Really, that too?”
“Yeah.”
“OK. Do you have any sun-dried left?”
“Do we have any sun-dried?”
“A few.”
“OK. I’ll have that with your olive cream cheese.”
“Um . . .”
“Oh, come on!”
“Sorry. I don’t even know how we stay open!”
“Plain is fine. And lox and capers and tomatoes and everything, just no onions.”
“’86 the sun-dried!”
“Done!”
“Looks like you got the last one!”
Fist-pump.
Some time later.
“Where’s the lox?”
“It’s right there.”
“Did you get any?”
“A piece about this big.” [Indicating half-inch chunk of lox in air with thumb and forefinger.]
“I guess they ’86ed the lox, too.”
“And the lettuce.”
“At least the coffee’s good.”
End scene.
As is so often the case in real life, the ending is not satisfactory. The bottom of my coffee cup should have dissolved then. Danged reality!
(P.S. I did not say “Oh, come on!” My actual words were “Oh, really? That’s okay.” Politeness makes for boring copy.)
— Kristen
I shudder to think of the spam this blog post title is going to get me, but so be it. This needs to be said.
At the tail end of a work phone call today, my friend and colleague P. gave me some great advice. I’d told her that I’ve been trying to make a morning exercise routine stick. I’m currently on Day Four of what I hope will become a permanent lifestyle change that involves walking, biking, hiking, or swimming for an hour every morning, six or seven days a week.