Fortunately, with the right skills and toolset, we can make the conversion process more user-friendly, thus reducing friction and generating more revenue for our clients.

Mike Perla, Director of Conversion Optimization, will shed light on:

• What role usability plays in conversion rate optimization
• How audience can dictate functionality
• Heuristic evaluation of UI
• Reducing friction with decision support tools
• Overcoming objections with hard evidence

About the speaker: 

Mike joined Fathom in 2006 with more than 10 years’ experience designing/developing for desktops Internet, destkops and print.  He led Fathom’s rebranding in 2006 and later helped to launch and lead its video production department.

He has managed and directed high-traffic website designs, in addition to developing proprietary Flash applications and best practices for conversion rate optimization, web design, writing persuasive content, persona development and market positioning.

In his current role, Mike heads the conversion rate optimization and website design teams.

 Meeting Time: 6:30-8:30pm

• 6:30-7:00pm – Networking & Socializing
• 7:00-7:10pm - NEOUPA Announcement & Speaker Intro
• 7:10-8:30pm - Presentation with Q & A

Meeting cost

• Free Events for NEOUPA members
• $10 for non-members

Directions

Fathom Online Marketing
8200 Sweet Valley Dr., Suite 100
Valley View, OH 44125

http://www.fathomseo.com/about-us/directions.asp

Full information and registration at neoupa.org

Register by close of business on March 5 to attend.

We are extremely fortunate to have Robert Dianetti, president of Radcom, Inc., present for our March monthly community meeting.

Topic:

Mobile Learning, Distributed Content, and the Allure of Metadata
Welcome to the Social Enterprise. Come hear this conceptual and thought-provoking session on how the future of our profession will impact business areas as diverse as employee engagement, client/prospect engagement, and media interest. During this session we will look at ways the content we are developing today can do so much more than to “simply” educate and inform. Specifically we will look at areas where we can deploy our content, like existing content channels, so that it can serve as a catalyst to boost collaboration among our many and varied constituencies. The tools are available now!  Gain some knowledge and insight about these tools so that you can pitch these concepts to your companies, departments, and managers – before some consulting company from California pitches it for you!

Speaker:

Bob Dianetti is founder and President of Radcom, Inc., a technical communication and training development consulting company in NE Ohio founded in 1996. Prior to Radcom, Bob worked as a technical writing and instructional design consultant for Datacorp Business Systems (now Modis Solutions) and CAP Gemini America. Bob earned degrees in Electrical Engineering/ Industrial Distribution, Technical Writing, and attended an Executive MBA program.

On top of his work as President and Sales Director at Radcom, Bob has been active in the technical communications and instructional design communities. In 2009, Bob was named an Associate Fellow by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). He is currently serving on a committee in support of the STC International Conference. He recently served as Region 4 Director and has been a member of the NE Ohio chapter for over twelve years. Other positions Bob has held in the NE Ohio chapter include Board Member on the Governance Committee, Chair of the Bylaws Sub-committee, President, Vice President, Membership Director, Corporate Sponsor Chair, and Communications Chair. Bob was also the recipient of the Distinguished Chapter Service Award (2001) and the Volunteer of the Year Award (2000).

Date:

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Time:

5:30 to 6:00 PM – Registration
6:00 to 7:00 PM – Dinner and Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
7:00 to 8:00 PM – Bob Dianetti’s Presentation

Location:

Radcom, Inc.
561 Boston Mills Rd, Suite 400
Hudson OH 44236
Phone: 330.650.4777
Toll Free: 888.654.1673

If you need directions after 5:00 on the day of the meeting, call Ginny Haas at 330-329-8655.

Menu:

Assorted deli sandwiches, salad and beverages

Price:

• Meeting only members/students: $15
• Meeting only nonmembers: $25
• With dinner members/students: $25
• With dinner nonmembers: $40

Register at NEOSTC’s site.

• A review of how top search engines like Google rank your website.
• What are the essential SEO techniques that you should be using?
• Advanced SEO techniques to increase your traffic.
• Content Strategy – What is it and how can you use it?

Moderator: Ryan Morgan – ERC

Panelists:
Eric Pryor, SEO Strategist at Rosetta;
Dave Skorepa, Chief Creative Officer at Aztek

Register Now!

IAKM offers a graduate program in information architecture, information use (usability), and knowledge management through an interdisciplinary Master of Science program, certificates and online courses.

NEOUPA is the Northeast Ohio chapter of the international Usability Professionals’ Association, designed to educate, motivate and promote usability throughout Northeast Ohio.

The Information Architecture Institute supports individuals and organizations specializing in the design and construction of shared information spaces.

April 27, 2010
11:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Panelists: Caroline Emmett, Jeff Lee, Pete Radke
Moderator: Shannon Cross – CareerBoard.com
Location: Windows on the River
Type: Luncheon

Incorporating Social Media into Your Marketing Strategy

The Web Association invites you to join us on Tuesday, April 27th to learn how companies in Northeast Ohio are using social media to increase brand awareness, drive sales, improve SEO and build customer relationships.

Additionally our panel of experts will address the following key topics

• Building an effective social media strategy
• Growing your online audience
• Selling your social media strategy to senior management
• Monitoring your online reputation
• Measuring the impact of your social media activity

There have been a number of interesting developments in the UX world – most notably the growth of the iPhone and Facebook and the promise of the iPad. These devices and applications provide a unique glimpse into who our users are, what they want, and their mental model of how the web and software works (or doesn’t work).

Some key ideas that will be explored:

• The divide between the digital natives and those whose web literacy skills are lacking… as web developers and designers do we eliminate or create confusion.
• With the move towards abstracting the computer and its underlying file structure with interfaces like those found on the iPad and iPhone… will traditional computers and laptops become devices mainly for enthusiasts in this new world?
• How we (i.e., UX professionals & tech-savvy geeks) need to maintain the perspective that very few users are like us.
• How interfaces like the iPhone and iPad are grasped intuitively by children and how adding direct interaction to your interfaces improves usability.

Do you think "simplicity is overrated and that complexity sells?" How do you feel about the statement "the future of UI will be boring?" Well, come and join us as Chris Braunsdorf, former Director of User Experience at American Greetings Interactive, leads us in a lively discussion – exploring where the user interface is heading and the role we as UX professionals will play.

Meeting Time: 6:30-8:30pm

• 6:30-6:45pm- Food & socializing
• 6:45-7:00pm – NEOUPA business
• 7:00-8:30pm – Presentation with Q & A

Meeting cost:
Free Events for NEOUPA members
$10 for non-members

Directions:
Progressive Insurance
6300 Wilson Mills Road
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/7-OSsoMp7l

The Progressive Campus is located off the Wilson Mills Road exit on I-271. Check in at the Visitor’s Center in the West Building at the 6300 Wilson Mills Rd. Campus.
The meeting will be in the Campus 1 West Lower Wintergarden room.