Shane Guymon Presents

Non-Profit Organization Websites: Increasing Donations and Volunteering

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:16:12 -0500

Non-Profit Organization Websites: Increasing Donations and Volunteering:

Giving money on charity websites is 7% harder than spending money on e-commerce sites. Donating physical items is even harder. For non-profit websites, social media is secondary; the top priority is to write clearer content.

Donation Usability: Increasing Online Giving to Non-Profits and Charities

Wed, 02 May 2012 15:13:34 -0500

Donation Usability: Increasing Online Giving to Non-Profits and Charities:

User research finds significant deficiencies in non-profit organizations’ website content, which often fails to provide the info people need to make donation decisions.

Riding a horsey! (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:24:20 -0500

Riding a horsey! (Taken with instagram)

Making friends! (Taken with Instagram at LDS Church...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:53:53 -0500

Making friends! (Taken with Instagram at LDS Church Meetinghouse)

Bloom (Taken with instagram)

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:59:41 -0500

Bloom (Taken with instagram)

Enjoying the view (Taken with Instagram at Daybreak South...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:59:45 -0500

Enjoying the view (Taken with Instagram at Daybreak South Jordan)

Taken with instagram

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:40:31 -0500

Taken with instagram

Fallen vador (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:50:42 -0500

Fallen vador (Taken with instagram)

The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On (by BarterBooksLtd)

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:08:44 -0500

The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On (by BarterBooksLtd)

Spring Photos, a set on Flickr.We took our kids over to Camera...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:00:57 -0500

Spring Photos, a set on Flickr.

We took our kids over to Camera Shy Photography this morning to get some pictures taken of our three beautiful children. They did a great job, and we all had a lot of fun.

Social Evolution Besides the first 45 seconds of this video I...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:10:51 -0600

Social Evolution

Besides the first 45 seconds of this video I completely agree with the message here. Social Evolution is something that I’ve been growing more and more interested in and passionate about. My growing awareness of this first began when I started noticing people, friends, and acquaintances who were afraid to share ideas openly. This grew even stronger when hearing Steve Jobs announce that he was basically forging a war against “Android,” by saying, “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.” When in reality he openly admitted and boasted about stealing good ideas for years.

Who cares if people “remix” your idea. Why be afraid, just focus on making your idea the best it can be. If the iPhone is truly a better product, then why should they be concerned about Android?

It get’s worse when you read about some of the minute details that Apple was successful in winning in a court against HTC.

“The patent in question relates to technology that helps users clicking on phone numbers and other types of data in a document, such as an email, to either dial directly or click on the data to bring up more information.”

Source: Apple wins smartphone patents victory over HTC

I’m actually a huge Apple fan, I use their products everyday. I’m not an apologist though, so to me the greater good of man is more important. I believe that as you share your ideas openly with people and the world your ideas become stronger and better. In this same regard I spent two years of my life sharing my beliefs with people. I found that the more I openly shared my beliefs the stronger my beliefs became, and the more I learned about myself and others. Not only this but I was able to see countless lives change because I openly shared my ideas and beliefs.

The 3 Qs for Great Experience Design

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:45:20 -0600

The 3 Qs for Great Experience Design:

“For more than seven years, we’ve studied how the great user experience teams succeed. We’ve looked at a variety of variables to isolate what it takes. We’ve looked at management structure, employed methodologies, best practices, and hiring qualifications. We’ve looked at team communication techniques, requirement gathering techniques, the target industry, and the geographic location. All said, we’ve inspected about 250 different variables for dozens of organizations across a wide variety of industries, educational institutions, and government.”

“As with most things, most variables don’t play a role. However, we found three key variables as being critically important: vision, feedback, and culture. Using these three variables, we’ve created corresponding questions to help us quickly rate a team’s experience design prowess. Teams that answer these questions well are far more likely to create great experiences than the rest of the pack.”

Happy B-Day Mike In celebration of Michael Jordan’s...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:45:27 -0600

Happy B-Day Mike

In celebration of Michael Jordan’s birthday, I’d like to use this video to remind people that nobody does it or will ever do it like Mike. Not Queen James, not Kobe Bryant, not D-Wade, not Carmelo Anthony, nor Derrick Rose. Nooooobody.

SOURCE: Michael Jordan - Swagger (by crusher914)

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting..."

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:12 -0600

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

- Gordon B. Hinckley

It’s UNC - Duke time! My favorite game of the year!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:10:00 -0600

It’s UNC - Duke time! My favorite game of the year!

"Ideas are worth nothing, craft is everything—Something I truly believe. I think it was David Lynch..."

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:17:00 -0600

“Ideas are worth nothing, craft is everything—Something I truly believe. I think it was David Lynch who said that ideas are everywhere, free for anyone to use. And I think that everyone has ideas, lots of them, both good and bad. So I chose early on to focus on craft. Minding the little details that make a difference.”

- Henrik Berggren

The Trax Experience

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:03:47 -0600

The sun was shining, yet barely through the partially but still mostly clouded sky. The entire ground was soaked with a recent shower of precipitation that fell from the sky. There was a slight brisk flow of wind nipping at my uncovered skin as I stepped out of our pearl white Mazda 5. We arrived at the Sandy Civic Center Trax station a tid bit confused. Initially we attempted to make uneducated guesses of where to go and what to do. One train was sitting on the tracks, the windows were tinted sufficiently that from our perspective and distance it was impossible to know if the train was full or empty. After a brief discussion with my wife I decided to just venture out in search of further light and knowledge in regards to how to use this train. A relatively short distance away stood a small octagon shaped building that appeared to be either where an individual much like myself might would purchase a ticket or perhaps a reliable place in which a person much like unto myself might per chance be comfortable to propose a question. I might even say that this octagon shaped building gave the perception that a person much like unto myself would have a sufficient amount of trust that their questions would most definitely be answered. Much to my shagrin as I made my way in haste to this building it was indeed EMPTY.

Several questions began racing through my mind. Was I supposed to sit and wait for the train to open it’s doors? When the trains doors were open would that reveal more obvious answers to my questions? Might there be a ticket scanner on the other side of those closed doors? Was there a ticket scanner on the outside of the train doors? Where would a human similar to myself purchase a ticket? I anxiously cast my vision abroad looking for some type of signage that would provide me with the helpful information my heart yearned for. As confusion began to envelope me and frustration began to overtake my faculties further impeding my ability to make calm and sane decisions, I approach a man who was also standing near the train much like myself. However, this nice young individual was standing and gazing upon the vast lot of asphalted land which was generously filled with vehicles of travel. With a confused look on my face I muttered, “How does this work?”

The cleanly shaven young man stood with a square chin and sincere eyes that reflected a similar amount of confusion, mostly due to the poor choice of words that tripped its way off of my tongue. He stuttered a response, “The train? Have you ever used it before?”

I quickly and confidently responded, “No, I mean yes the train. Where do you buy tickets?”

The man was nice, eager, and willing to help. Patiently he began explaining where the different electronic ticket booths were located. As he spoke his arm was extended with his index finger firmly pressing forward as he circled round about. Then he even offered me the day pass that he purchased explaining that it was good until a specific time, and he was already through using it. I then explained in further detail, “Well, my work badge is supposed to allow me to use the train.”

The gentle man with a scruffy beard and dark brown eyes turned my attention to a small metal post protruding from the concreate that pathed the very ground in which we walked. It was skinny and rectangular in shape and had a yellow sign with large black san-serif letters that appeared to be in ITC Avant Garde reads, “TAP ON/TAP OFF” with a large black arrow pointing upward to a small yet sufficient sized digital screen. The burly bearded figure with long flowing hair, pointing to the object said, “Just tap your badge on that and it should work.”

We both walked over together and I pulled my work badge out of the inside pocket of my black polyester suit jacket. The flesh of the backside of my right hand brushed softly against my soft black cotton sweater as I slipped into the pocket to retrieve my work badge. I placed it on the sufficiently sized digital screen precisely where that large black arrow was directing me. Sure enough a digitally enhanced beep rang through the cool crisp February air and a green check instantaneously appeared on the sufficiently sized digital screen. Still confused I looked back and the strange old bearded man and said, “Now what?”

He softly explained through his bearded face that I just needed to walk up to the door, press the button on the outside of the door and carefully walk up the steps into the train.

I carefully followed his instructions, and to my amazement I successfully boarded the train and found a mostly empty train with ample blue clothed seats to rest my wearied yet eager to sieze the day soul.

A Terrible Beginner User Experience

This proved to be a terrible beginner user experience. The Trax works perfect for an experienced rider, in fact you only really need to ride the train once to become an expert. Yet there’s plenty of things wrong happening here. I’ve ridden the Trax a handful of times now, and each and every time I either heard someone asking similar questions I had, or they asked me those questions. You shouldn’t have to rely on nice young yet old bearded smooth faced strangers with a square jaw to offer up a ticket and solutions to be able figure out how to use the system.

I rode similar public transportation in the fruitful lands of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In this far far away land you have to actually purchase a ticket before even walking through a gate that swiveled around 360 degrees to where the public form of transportation resided. They also make it very painfully obvious when the public transportation device is ready for travelers to venture off onward in their pursuit of happiness. The doors all open.

Today

Now, you can find me riding the rails with supreme confidence ready and willing to help the rest of the confused beginners. Let’s hope that this story reaches you before you anxiously strike off on your maiden voyage to set this world on fire (figuratively not literally).

Music Monday So it’s been awhile since I shared some music...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:54:00 -0600

Music Monday

So it’s been awhile since I shared some music with y’all. Well I’ve had a life is happening and so I’m back, and hoping to get this going again. Let’s kick this off with a brand spanking new song by Fun. I just discovered this song last night while watching the Super Bowl. The song was played during a Chevy commercial, and my good friend Bucky pointed out that it was by one of our favorite bands. I didn’t even realize they were coming out with a new album (Some Nights) which is set to be released on February 21, 2012.

Enjoy™

More About Fun.

“Fun (stylized fun.) is an American indie pop band based in New York, New York that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess left Arizona to develop his career in New York City. Ruess then formed Fun with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. Fun recorded their debut album, Aim and Ignite in August 2009 with producer Steven McDonald and arranger Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., the former keyboardist of Jellyfish.”

— Wikipedia: Fun (the band)

Brilliantly Random I love these new commercials for the 2012 Kia...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:33:38 -0600

Brilliantly Random

I love these new commercials for the 2012 Kia Optima with Blake Griffen. I can’t remember the last time I saw an NBA player do so well in a commercial. Somehow Blake Griffen is able to give a performance that fits the overall mood of the commercial perfectly. So if Fantasticnous is tied up in someone’s basement I’m pretty sure Kia came and kidnapped it from that basement and has unleashed it in this fantasticly brilliant campaign.

SOURCE: 2012 Kia Optima Blake Griffin Commercial “Easy to Fold” (by KiaMotorsAmerica)

Groupon: Is It the Deals or the Copy?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:20:00 -0600

Groupon: Is It the Deals or the Copy?:

“There is more going on here than interesting copy. Fellow ClickZ author Bryan Eisenberg and his brother Jeffrey defined four “Modes of Persuasion” in their book “Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?” These four modes define the primary ways readers want to get information and the way they research a problem.”

“Groupon designs its emails and deal pages with these four modes in mind.”