It feels easy, familiar, and free. But here’s the truth:

If you don’t own your website, you don’t own your online presence.

Why Your Domain Name Matters

Your domain name (like yourbusinessname.com) is your business’s digital home.

When your business only lives on a platform you don’t own, you’re building on rented land.

That means:

• The platform can change its rules anytime.
• Your visibility depends on an algorithm, not your effort.
• You don’t fully control how customers find or experience your brand.

Owning your own website gives you complete control. You can showcase your services, collect leads, and create a space that reflects your brand, not someone else’s.

The SEO Advantage of Owning Your Website

Here’s where owning your website really pays off: SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

When your business has its own website, every blog post, testimonial, and backlink helps Google understand who you are and what you do. Over time, this builds authority, meaning your business shows up higher in local searches.

Compare that to a Facebook page or Substack profile:

They don’t rank as well in Google search results.

You can’t optimize them for the exact keywords your customers use.

Any SEO value you build helps their platform grow — not yours.

With your own domain, your marketing efforts become investments instead of donations to someone else’s algorithm. You’re building long-term visibility that stays with you.

The Trade-off: Managing Your Own Platform

Of course, running your own website takes more effort.

You’ll need to handle updates, plugins, backups, and design tweaks. There’s also hosting and a domain name fee.

But think of it like the difference between renting a booth and owning your own shop.

Owning comes with responsibility, but also freedom, equity, and stability.

When you own your website, no one can take away your customers, change your reach, or delete your account overnight.

Finding the Balance: Best of Both Worlds

The good news? You don’t have to give up social media or your newsletter platform.

You can use them to drive traffic to your website — not replace it.

Here are a few ways to strike a balance:

1. Make your website the “home base.”

Post updates, offers, or new services on Facebook or Instagram, but always link back to your website for the full details or contact form.

2. Cross-publish strategically.

If you love writing on Substack or Medium, post a shortened version there and link back to your website for the full story. That gives you both visibility and SEO value.

3. Start small.

Even a simple one-page website with your services, contact info, and a few photos builds credibility. You can always expand later.

4. Use easy tools.

Platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Webflow make it simple to manage your own site, no coding required.

The Takeaway

Your website isn’t just another marketing tool, it’s your business’s digital foundation.

Social media platforms will come and go, but your domain name is yours to build, shape, and grow.

When you own your website, you control your story, your SEO, and your customer experience.

And that’s something no algorithm can take away.

The post Stop Building on Rented Land: Why Every Small Business Needs Its Own Website appeared first on Craig Allen.

Recently, over lunch, a friend shared something that stopped me in my tracks. Their spouse had been the victim of a carjacking, with their young child still in the back seat. The carjacker, armed and desperate, had already committed another crime in a neighboring state and was on the run.

Miraculously, no one was hurt. But as my friend explained the aftermath—replacing the car, testifying in court, processing the trauma—I felt something deeper than disbelief. I felt shock and awe.

Not because the story was told dramatically. There were no raised voices or exaggerated gestures. It was quiet, honest, and real.

And that is exactly why it stayed with me.

Why Shock and Awe Work in Storytelling

As humans, we are wired to remember stories that stir emotion. Shock, surprise, or awe can jolt us out of our routines and make us pay attention. But there is a difference between manufactured drama and authentic impact.

The story above worked not because it was sensationalized, but because it was true.

When we share authentic moments, even the shocking ones, we connect on a deeper level. The listener or reader feels what we feel. In a noisy world, that emotional connection is what makes your story stand out.

What This Means for Your Brand

Whether you are a small business owner, creative, or entrepreneur, storytelling is not about creating a perfect marketing narrative. It is about sharing real moments that move people—the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way.

When you tell your story with authenticity, even the most shocking details can become your most powerful marketing tool.

So the next time you write an email, post on social media, or share your brand story, ask yourself:

• Is this true to my experience?
• Will it move someone?
• Does it matter to the person hearing it?

If the answer is yes, that is storytelling with shock and awe that actually lasts.

The Takeaway

Shock grabs attention. Authenticity makes it last.

The post The Power of Shock and Awe in Authentic Storytelling appeared first on Craig Allen.

The coolest part? My kids actually came up with the idea. To me, that says a lot. It means they instinctively understand that both the good and the bad moments hold value. Sometimes the conversation dissolves into chaos and laughter, but more often, it’s heartfelt and honest.

It’s become one of my favorite parts of the day. Listening to them talk about what made them proud, what frustrated them, or what made them laugh helps me see their world more clearly. It’s a reminder that life isn’t just about highlight reels—it’s about the full picture.

That same principle applies to how we share our stories as people, creators, and business owners.

We love to post our wins—new clients, product launches, milestones—but the truth is, the moments we struggle are just as meaningful. When we share the full story, we give others permission to connect with us on a human level.

Authenticity isn’t a marketing tactic.

It’s how we build trust.

It’s how we form real relationships.

Your audience, your customers, your community—they don’t want perfection. They want truth. They want to see themselves in your story, and that only happens when you’re willing to show both the wins and the losses.

When you share holistically—celebrating the highs and acknowledging the lows—you create a space for genuine connection. And that’s what turns followers into friends, customers into advocates, and ideas into movements.

The post Why Sharing the Whole Story Matters: The Power of Honesty in Connection appeared first on Craig Allen.

Music was my first creative outlet — and it still feels like home. But over the years, I’ve also felt drawn to writing. I’ve written everything from personal reflections to articles about technology and creativity. The problem? I could never do it consistently.

No matter how much I tried to make writing a habit, I’d start strong and fade out. Between work, family, and building a business, I never found a system that helped me write regularly or at the quality level I wanted.

Until now.

Recently, I stumbled into a content creation system that actually fits my life. It’s not fancy, and it’s not built around a bunch of expensive tools or complicated workflows. It’s personal, simple, and effective.

And it all started with my daily commute.

The Struggle of Finding a System That Sticks

If you’ve ever tried to build something — whether it’s a business, a creative project, or a consistent content routine — you know the hardest part isn’t the work itself. It’s the structure around the work.

Running a business while working full-time means juggling multiple roles:

• The creative side — making the actual thing you get paid for.
• The administrative side — emails, invoices, taxes, and systems.
• The marketing side — showing up online, creating content, and connecting with your audience.

It’s a lot.

I’ve tried project management tools, task lists, reminders, and productivity apps. I’ve color-coded my to-dos, set up automation, and even scheduled “creativity blocks” on my calendar. None of it stuck.

Why? Because none of it fit how I actually live and work. My schedule is already full — so carving out extra time for writing, recording, or editing just wasn’t happening.

The Pressure to Create (and Why Video Didn’t Work for Me)

Everywhere you look, the advice is the same: You have to do video.

And I get it — video is powerful. It builds trust fast and stands out on social media. But for me, video has always been an obstacle.

I don’t have a quiet studio or a dedicated office space with perfect lighting. I don’t have time to set up equipment or edit footage late into the night. And even if I did, I don’t always feel comfortable on camera.

That’s the kind of friction that kills consistency.

I love language. I love the written word. Writing feels natural to me — it’s how I process ideas and express myself best. So instead of forcing myself to fit into someone else’s system, I finally asked:

What if I built one around me?

The Epiphany: Using My Commute as Creative Time

The answer came from an unexpected place: my drive to work.

Every day, I spend about 40–45 minutes in the car. I usually listen to music or podcasts, but one day I started speaking my thoughts out loud — almost like a voice journal. I opened the Notes app on my phone, hit record, and just started talking.

No script. No plan. Just thoughts.

What came out surprised me. In that one drive, I recorded nearly 30 minutes of raw, unfiltered ideas — stories, reflections, business insights, and lessons I’d been meaning to share for months.

Then I realized my audio app automatically transcribed everything. Suddenly, I had a rough draft — thousands of words — ready to be shaped into something usable.

That’s when it clicked:

I could turn my commute into a creative engine.

Turning Voice Notes into Written Content

Here’s the process I use now:

1. Record while driving — I talk through ideas, reflections, or stories into my phone’s voice memo app.
2. Transcribe automatically — The app converts my audio into text.
3. Feed it into ChatGPT — I ask it to summarize and structure the text into a blog post draft.
4. Refine for tone and brand — I have a set of prompts that help me maintain my voice, tone, and message.
5. Edit manually — I polish the language, add examples, and adjust formatting.
6. Repurpose — The blog becomes an email, a LinkedIn post, and sometimes social snippets.

That’s it.

It’s not about technology — it’s about reducing friction. I no longer have to “find time” to create. I use time I already have.

Why It Works for Me

This system checks every box that used to stop me from creating:

 No extra time required — I use driving time that would otherwise be idle.
 No pressure to be perfect — It’s just me talking; editing comes later.
 Built-in authenticity — These recordings capture my natural voice and emotion.
 Simple tools — I don’t need fancy gear or software.
 Scalable workflow — With transcription and AI, I can quickly shape raw ideas into polished content.

By the time I get home, I’ve captured a complete thought or story. Later, I turn it into a full blog post and break it down for social media.

It’s creative momentum — built into my daily life.

How I Stay Organized

To keep things on track, I use a simple Trello board with five stages:

1. Ideas – Quick thoughts or prompts for future recordings.
2. Recorded – Topics I’ve talked through while driving.
3. Transcribed – Audio that’s been converted to text.
4. Edited – Blog posts in progress.
5. Published – Content ready to share and repurpose.

This gives me a clear visual system to see what’s in the pipeline. Sometimes I batch record three or four topics in one week. Other times, I only manage one. Either way, progress is visible — and that motivates me to keep going.

The Ripple Effect of Consistency

After just one recording session, I had enough material for a full blog post. But more importantly, it sparked new ideas — five more blog topics, in fact.

That’s the beauty of creative momentum: when you remove friction, your brain starts connecting dots faster. The act of creating begets more creation.

Now, when I sit down to write, I’m not starting from scratch. I already have a base of thoughts and stories to build from — which makes the process smoother and more enjoyable.

The Role of AI in My Workflow

AI isn’t doing the creative thinking for me — it’s helping me organize it.

When I paste a transcript into ChatGPT, I don’t just ask it to “write a blog post.” I use specific prompts to:

• Summarize the main themes.
• Organize ideas into logical sections.
• Preserve my personal tone and storytelling style.
• Suggest SEO-friendly headings and structure.

Then I go back through and rewrite or expand sections to sound fully like me.

This partnership between human creativity and AI efficiency is what makes the system sustainable. I still get to be the artist — AI is just my assistant.

From Commute to Content Ecosystem

What started as an experiment has turned into a repeatable ecosystem:

 Voice recording →  Transcription →  AI organization →  Blog post →  Newsletter + Social Content

Every stage builds on the one before it, making the most of each idea. Instead of creating more, I’m creating smarter.

And that’s what’s made the biggest difference — not just in consistency, but in creative confidence.

The Bigger Lesson: Creativity Is Problem-Solving

This system works for me because it’s tailored to my current reality — full-time job, family, limited hours.

But the broader lesson is this:

Creativity isn’t just about making things — it’s about finding creative ways to make things possible.

For someone else, maybe it’s using voice notes to brainstorm to-dos. For another, it might be morning journaling, weekend batching, or collaborating with a co-writer. The point is to use your creativity to design your workflow, not just your work.

That’s the mindset shift that’s made content creation feel less like work — and more like play again.

A Personal Game-Changer

It might sound small — recording voice notes during a commute — but it’s been a game-changer for me.

It’s reclaimed time I thought was lost. It’s given me a creative outlet that fits my life instead of fighting it. And it’s reignited my excitement for sharing ideas and helping others do the same.

I call it being Customer Zero — the first person to test my own systems before helping others implement them.

If you’re trying to build your brand, share your story, or just get consistent with content, maybe this approach can inspire you too.

Because the best system isn’t the one everyone else uses — it’s the one that actually works for you.

Final Thoughts

Creating content doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need perfect gear, a fancy office, or hours of free time. What you need is a system that fits your life — one that turns the messy middle of your day into creative fuel.

That’s what this process has done for me.

It’s proof that creativity thrives when we stop trying to fit into someone else’s formula — and start building our own.

The post How I Finally Found a Content Creation System That Works for Me appeared first on Craig Allen.

That approach can work well. It’s exciting, clean, and controlled. There’s value in a well-timed reveal. But I’ve always found myself drawn to the opposite approach.

I like talking about what I’m building while I’m building it.

Not because I need external validation or want to ruin the surprise, but because I think there’s something powerful about letting people see the process unfold in real time. It builds connection. It invites people into the story. And for me, it makes the entire creative journey more meaningful.

The Debate: Does Talking About It Help or Hurt?

There’s an interesting psychological argument around this idea. Some people say that when you talk about your goals or projects before you’ve finished them, your brain experiences a sense of satisfaction that’s almost identical to actually doing the work.

For example, if you tell someone, “I’m going to start a new fitness routine” or “I’m going to write a book,” your brain rewards you with the same little hit of dopamine you’d get from actually making progress. The theory is that once you’ve had that little reward, you lose some motivation to follow through.

It’s an intriguing idea.

But for me, it works differently. When I share what I’m planning to do, it doesn’t take away my motivation—it increases it. Saying it out loud makes it real. It adds accountability. Now there are people who know what I’m working on, and that adds a sense of responsibility to actually deliver.

Some people don’t like that kind of pressure, and that’s totally valid. But for me, that accountability keeps me focused. It keeps me from quietly abandoning ideas that matter.

Why I Prefer to Share as I Go

When you share something you’re working on before it’s finished, you create a sense of anticipation and collaboration. It’s not about spoiling the surprise; it’s about building a story that others can be part of.

I’ve always loved being able to see behind the curtain. When someone I follow online shares little snippets of their process—their challenges, their progress, their excitement—it draws me in. It makes me care about what they’re building. By the time the finished product arrives, I already feel emotionally invested.

That’s what I want for the people who follow my work. I want them to feel like they’ve been part of the journey, not just handed a final product.

There’s a real joy in seeing something grow from an idea to reality, and I think storytelling is the perfect vehicle for that.

The Storytelling Advantage

Storytelling isn’t just a marketing tactic; it’s how humans connect. It’s how we make sense of what we do.

When you share your process in real time, you’re giving people more than an update—you’re inviting them into a story that unfolds over time. The wins and setbacks, the decisions, the pivots—all of it becomes part of the narrative.

When you finally reach the finish line, the people who have followed along don’t just see the product. They see the process, and that makes the outcome far more meaningful.

It’s not just about marketing a thing; it’s about sharing a journey.

The Old Way vs. The New Way

As a musician, I’ve seen this shift firsthand.

Not too long ago, the music industry was built around mystery. Bands would disappear for months or even years to record an album. You’d have no idea what they were working on until the record was finished. Then suddenly, a single would drop, and the press machine would start rolling.

There was a sense of magic in that. Artists were seen almost as untouchable geniuses who created behind closed doors.

But with social media, that model began to change. Artists started sharing snippets of unfinished songs, showing fans their recording sessions, and documenting their creative process. Suddenly, listeners could watch their favorite musicians build the thing they loved.

The result? A deeper connection between artist and audience.

When a single drops now, fans remember the rough demo that first appeared on Instagram months ago. They remember the story behind it—the late-night recording sessions, the frustration, the breakthrough moments. That shared experience makes the final release more powerful.

That’s what “building in public” can do for any creative project, not just music.

Transparency Builds Trust

For creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, sharing your process is one of the most effective ways to build trust.

When you show the work that goes into what you create, you’re not just telling people you’re passionate—you’re proving it.

People can tell when something is authentic. They can tell when you care about the details and the craft. And when they feel that, they’re much more likely to root for you, support you, and share what you’re doing.

In a world where we’re constantly being marketed to, transparency is refreshing. It’s a reminder that real people are behind the things we buy, listen to, and support.

Avoiding the Hype Trap

There’s one kind of pre-announcement that never feels right to me—the kind where a company teases an announcement without saying what it is. You know the ones: “Big news coming soon!” or “Something exciting is happening Friday!”

Personally, I find that kind of marketing frustrating.

It’s asking people to get excited about nothing. You’re being asked to hype up an event without knowing whether it’s even something you care about.

To me, that approach feels empty. Instead, I’d rather be open about what’s happening, even if it’s not perfect yet.

That honesty goes a lot further than mystery ever could.

The Balance Between Sharing and Oversharing

Of course, not every detail needs to be public. You don’t have to document every single step. The goal isn’t to expose your entire creative process—it’s to invite people in where it makes sense.

Sharing selectively keeps the story engaging. It gives people something to look forward to without overwhelming them with noise.

There’s a rhythm to storytelling: a flow between sharing, creating, and reflecting. Finding that rhythm takes time, but once you do, it becomes a natural part of how you work.

Creating a Community, Not Just an Audience

One of the things I’m most excited about right now is building a new creative community. Over the last few years, I’ve seen how powerful online communities can be.

I help moderate a Discord server focused on ambient music, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s full of talented, supportive people who share resources, give feedback, and lift each other up.

That experience made me realize something important: I don’t just want followers. I want to create community.

An audience listens, but a community participates.

The kind of space I want to build; one where people can share their stories, their projects, and their struggles. A place where you can learn from others, give feedback, and grow together.

That’s the future I’m working toward—not just broadcasting content, but creating spaces for genuine connection.

Playing the Long Game

Building trust and community takes time. There’s no shortcut for authenticity.

In a world of viral trends and short attention spans, it can be tempting to chase the quick wins. But the things that last—strong relationships, meaningful work, sustainable creativity—those are built slowly.

When you build in public, you’re not just working on your project. You’re building a foundation of trust with the people who follow you.

That trust is what carries you through the ups and downs of the creative journey.

The Power of Shared Stories

Music taught me that storytelling connects us in ways data never can.

A song can make you feel less alone. It can celebrate joy, help you process grief, or remind you that someone else has walked the same road. That same power exists in every form of storytelling.

When we share our stories—whether through music, design, business, or words—we give people something to connect with. Something to hold onto.

That’s what I want—to help people tell authentic stories that resonate. Not stories designed to trick people into buying, but stories that inspire trust, empathy, and connection.

Why Building in Public Matters

The world doesn’t need more perfect launches. It needs more honest journeys.

When you build in public, you give people permission to do the same. You show them that it’s okay to be in process, to be figuring things out, to not have all the answers.

And when you finally release that finished project, the people who have been cheering you on from the beginning will celebrate with you. They’ll feel like they helped you cross the finish line.

That kind of connection can’t be manufactured. It’s earned through honesty, vulnerability, and consistency.

The Next Step

That’s what I want to create—a community of people who believe in storytelling, connection, and authenticity.

If that resonates with you, I’d love for you to be part of it. Join the conversation, share your story, and connect with others who are building something meaningful.

We’ll celebrate the wins, learn from the struggles, and keep creating together.

Because at the end of the day, building in public isn’t about attention. It’s about belonging.

The post Building in Public: Why Sharing Your Process Builds Trust, Community, and Better Stories appeared first on Craig Allen.

When I opened up about it, people would say, “But look at all you’ve done!” — and yet, I couldn’t see myself the way they did. Every project carried its own mix of stress, doubt, and disappointment.

As I’ve been developing my business, I started to notice something deeper: a gap between what I know I’m capable of and how worthy I feel of doing it.

And the more I paid attention, the more I realized where that feeling came from.

The Trap of Chasing Success

Like so many of us, I got caught up in the constant chase — the need to achieve, prove myself, and keep up.

Social media makes it even harder. Everywhere I looked, people were launching podcasts, releasing books, or booking speaking gigs. It’s inspiring, sure — but it also made me question my own progress.

Who am I to be doing this when others are already miles ahead?

That kind of thinking kept me stuck for years.

Comparison Is the Thief of Joy (and Perspective)

The truth is, we only see a small slice of anyone’s story. We see their wins — not their late nights, rejections, or moments of doubt.

Once I understood that, something shifted.

I started to see successful people not as competition, but as evidence that what I want is possible. Their stories could motivate me, not diminish me.

Redefining Success on My Own Terms

When I zoomed out, I realized my version of success simply looks different.

For me, success means spending time with my family while my kids are still young. It means doing work that helps people and aligns with my values.

I’m not chasing recognition or validation anymore. I’m chasing meaning.

The Quiet Work That Actually Matters

The truth is, most of the work that leads to “success” happens when no one’s watching — designing templates, recording episodes, writing and rewriting content that may or may not ever go viral.

That’s the work I’ve learned to love.

Because when you love the process, the outcomes matter less.

Why I Stopped Chasing Success

I stopped chasing success because I realized it was based on someone else’s definition.

Now, I’m simply focused on showing up, doing the work, and growing along the way — failures and all.

The irony is, that’s probably what real success looks like after all.

The post Why I Stopped Chasing Success (and Started Redefining What It Means) appeared first on Craig Allen.

The answer, I’ve learned, isn’t doing more—it’s telling your story better.

Why Storytelling Is Essential for Small Business Marketing

Most entrepreneurs know they need a website and social media presence. But without a clear story, their marketing often feels disconnected. The result? A website that looks nice but doesn’t attract leads, or posts that get likes but not customers.

A well-told story creates:

• Connection – People buy from people, not faceless businesses.
• Trust – Sharing your wins and struggles makes you relatable.
• Consistency – A strong story ties all your platforms together.
• Attention – Authentic content cuts through digital noise.

In short: a clear, authentic story makes your marketing work harder for you.

My Own Journey With Storytelling

After being laid off from a job I had for 15 years, I spent months unemployed before finding a new role. That time gave me space to think about what I really wanted: to help people uncover their stories and use them to grow their businesses.

I’ve been freelancing and designing websites for over 20 years, but I realized the missing piece wasn’t just design or SEO—it was strategy and storytelling.

That’s why I’m now building a business around helping entrepreneurs clarify their stories, share them consistently, and grow with purpose.

How to Turn Your Story Into a Growth Strategy

Here’s a simple framework for applying storytelling in your business:

1. Get Clear on Your Goals
   
   Do you want more leads, stronger community engagement, or more visibility? Define where you want your business to go in the next 6–12 months.
   
2. Build a Strong Foundation
   
   Your website should work for you. That means:
   
   • Optimizing for speed, accessibility, and SEO.
   • Writing clear messaging that reflects your story.
   • Designing with your customer’s journey in mind.
     
3. Create Content With Purpose
   
   Instead of posting everywhere, focus on the platforms that matter most for your audience. Share behind-the-scenes stories, customer wins, and lessons learned.
   
4. Track What Works
   
   Set measurable goals (like email subscribers, inquiries, or sales), review regularly, and adjust your strategy based on real data.
   

Learning From Failure

One of the most overlooked parts of storytelling is sharing the challenges. Mistakes aren’t weaknesses—they’re lessons. When you share your struggles, you build credibility and connect with people on a human level.

In fact, some of the most powerful stories you’ll tell will come from the times things didn’t go as planned.

The Bottom Line: Attention Is the New Currency

In today’s world, attention is more valuable than ever. Ads can be skipped, ignored, or blocked—but a real story can’t be.

When you share your story consistently and authentically, you don’t just market your business. You build trust, connection, and loyalty. That’s what turns strangers into long-term customers.

The post How Storytelling Can Grow Your Small Business appeared first on Craig Allen.

The post Introduction to design systems by Figma appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 94.60%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

• Designing for progressive enhancement and degradation
• Designing for mobile first
• The 4 C’s: Consistency, Continuity, Context, Complementary

Portfolio Project #3

Design an app for children to learn about their emotions.

The post Design a User Experience for Social Good appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 90.62%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

• Plan information architecture for a website
• Build sitemaps for a website and common site structures
• Plot a responsive layout
• Work with design systems and create a sticker sheet
• Web accessibility and inclusive design
• Give and receive design feedback
• Build a UX design resume

Portfolio Project #2

Design a website that allows patients to check in to their doctor’s office and answer initial health screening questions.

The post Dynamic UI for Websites appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 92.59%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

• Typography and iconography, containment, and negative space
• Hierarchy in mockups
• Scale, proportion, unity, and variety
• Gestalt principles
• Design system libraries in Figma
• Gestures and motion
• Plan and conduct a usability study
• Create a case study

Wireframe of Muzik App in Figma

I decided to create a mobile app for this project that would let users sign up for notifications when their favorite artist released a new album. They should be able to search for artists, view information about artists, and then sign up for notifications.

The post Designs and Prototypes in Figma appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 83.75%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

Research is a very methodical process. It once again highlights the need for a diverse group of participants in order to get the best possible results. Privacy and security practices are also important to think about ahead of time to respect all participants.

Research Study

A step-by-step examination of a group of users and their needs, which adds realistic context to the design process.

1. Plan
2. Research
3. Synthesize (analyze)
4. Share

Presentation

• Methods
• Data
• Conclusions
• Recommendations

Language and Communication is UX Research

• Be equitable
• Be inclusive
• Be honest
• Be neutral
• Be a team player

Elements of a UX Research Plan

1. Project background
2. Research goals
3. Questions
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
5. Methodology
6. Participants
7. Script

Project Background

Importance

• Gets the team on the same page at the beginning of the study
• Shows you understand why you’re doing this research
• Promotes confidence in the overall quality of your analysis/insights

How to Write A Project Background

1. Identify the signals that indicated it was necessary
2. Describe any previous research or solutions
3. List insights the research will generate

Research Goals

1. Foundational – help understand why of if you should build the product
2. Design – understand how to build it
3. Post-launch – if it works as expected

How to Write Research Questions

1. Actionable
2. Specific
3. Avoid leading questions

Key Performance Indicators

Critical measures of progress towards a goal.

• Time on task
• Use of navigation vs. search
• User error rates
• Drop off rates
• Conversion rates
• System Usability Scale (SUS)

Participants

• People selected for the study
• Characteristics (have a good reason)
• Screener survey
• Incentive (includes a way to thank them)
• Diver perspectives and abilities

Script

• Same for each person
• Open-ended
• Encourage collaboration
• Ask same questions from a different angle
• Don’t mention other users
• Don’t ask leading questions

Keeping User Data Private

• It’s the right thing to do
• Privacy laws and ethics
• Risk of hacking
• Protecting your company’s brand

Privacy & Security Practices

• Be transparent about data collection
• Only collect essential data
• Get active consent
• Provide detail of how you’ll use their information and protect their privacy
• All users to withdraw
• Inform users who will have access to their data
• Explain plan to store and delete user’s data

Privacy Concerns

• Recording – document study and results to be consistent with UX standards
• Storage – make sure data is held to be safe from hacking and damage
• Retention – how long we hold onto research data
• De-identification – remove identifying information from user’s data
• NDA – contract that gives on party legal protection against another stealing their ideas

Moderated Usability Studies

Unmoderated Usability Studies

Best Practices

• Get comfortable
• Put people first
• Don’t skip the paperwork
• Communicate clearly
• Ask the right questions

Strong Insights

• Frounded in real data
• Answers the research questions
• Easy to understand
• Increase empathy for the user experience

The post Research and Test Early Concepts appeared first on Craig Allen.

It made sense at the time.

I had been creating websites since I was 13, before CSS existed. I taught myself HTML by looking at the code in other websites, which at the time used tables for design and layout. It was messy, inefficient, and took forever. I found free hosting on GeoCities to proudly display my work. I then blogged for personal enjoyment on Xanga and even tried setting up a few sites on Blogger very briefly.

But once I discovered WordPress, there was no going back. I remember thinking at the time that although it was mainly used and marketed as a blogging tool, you could also create static pages of regular content. So it didn’t take long before I used it to create complete websites, whether they needed a blogging component or not.

From there I dove into theme development, and learned enough PHP to be dangerous. While I don’t currently create custom themes anymore, those years of developing my coding skills have benefited me in so many ways.

So, for the last 15+ years, I’ve used WordPress to build all the websites I’ve created for myself and my clients. I’ve trained and tutored people to use WordPress to maintain and update their own websites, and offer many additional services with WordPress at the forefront. In many ways, I’ve built a career from leveraging WordPress to design and develop solutions. Learning and implementing the WordPress Philosophy has given me the ability to help so many people.

The post Building with WordPress appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 100%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

Creating low-fidelity prototypes on paper can help iterate on many ideas quickly. They’re great for in-person teams, but harder with remote workers because of the barriers for real-time collaboration. Deceptive patterns are unethical and should be avoided at all times.

Understanding Information Architecture

1. Organization – how pieces of information connect in a product
2. Hierarchy – “tree structure” larger categories placed as the top and specific categories placed under
3. Sequence – enables users to move through an app via certain orders/steps

8 Basic Principles

1. Object – view your content as “living” – changes over time
2. Choice – people think they want many, but actually need fewer
3. Disclosure – info should not be unexpected or unnecessary
4. Exemplar – humans put things into categories and groups together
5. Front door – people usually arrive at the home page from another website
6. Multiple Classification – people have different ways of searching for information
7. Focused Navigation – must be a strategy/logic behind menu/navigation design
8. Growth – amount of content will grow over time

Benefits of Paper Wireframes

• Fast
• Inexpensive
• Explore lots of ideas

Digital Wireframes

• Use actual content for important text
• List actual text labels below links
• Use placeholder text for large text
• Don’t use expressive content

Gestalt Principals

• Similarity
• Proximity
• Common region

Create Low-fidelity Prototypes on Paper

Prototype – early model of a product that demonstrates functionality.

Low-fidelity Prototype – a simple, interactive model that provides a basic idea of what the product could look like.

Benefits of Paper Prototypes

• Inexpensive
• Rapid iteration
• Low committment
• Encourage honest feedback
• Collaborative activity

Drawbacks of Paper Prototypes

• Hard to interpret
• Tested in person
• Difficult with a remote team

Deceptive Patterns

• Forced continuity
• Sneak into basket
• Hidden costs
• Confirm shaming
• Urgency
• Scarcity

The post Wireframes and Prototypes appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 92.50%

Here are a few highlights from my notes.

Key Takeaways

Empathy is design is important because it helps designers understand the user’s needs. It’s also very important to have a diverse group of users for doing research as well as on your team when doing ideation, which will help overcome our own biases.

Best Practices for Giving Peer Review Feedback

• Understand the activity
• Provide descriptive feedback
• Pick 2-3 things you like (positives first)
• Pick 2-3 things that could be improved (give actionable advice)
• Be respectful and kind

Best Practices for Receiving Feedback

• Stay open-minded
• Remember your goal
• Keep your own agency

Understanding Empathy in UX Design

• Ask lots of questions
• Become more observant
• Be an active listener
• Request input
• Have an open mind
• Keep current on UX research

Survey Participants

• Family
• Friends
• Colleagues
• Managers
• Peers
• People you don’t know
  • Online groups
  • Social media
  • Third party recruiting

Determine Research Goals & Questions

• Determine your goals
• Writer interview questions
  • Open-ended
  • Short & simple
  • Ask follow-up questions

Conducting User Interviews

• Meet participant
  • Build a good rapport
  • Thank them for coming
  • Review legal details
  • Gather basic details
  • Let them know there are no right or wrong answers
• Conduct interviews
  • Follow interview ettiquette
  • Ask open-ended questions (why)
  • Take notes!
    • Compelling quotes
    • Document observations
    • Record
  • Wrap up -> show gratitude

Empathy Map

Identify User Pain Points

• Financial (paywall)
• Product (quality)
• Process (stop user – cart > checkout)
• Support (answers to questions)

Personas

Fictional users whose goals and characteristics represent the needs of a larger group of users.

• Build empathy
• Tell stories
• Stress-test designs

Advantages of User Stories

• Prioritize design goals
• Unite the team
• Inspire empathetic design decisions
• Personalize pitches to stakeholders

As a ________ (type of user), I want to ________ (action), so that ________ (benefit).

Happy Path

A user story with a happy ending.

Spotting and Resolving Edge Cases

• Create personas and user stories
• Thoroughly review project before launch
• User wireframes (visualize)

User Journey

The series of experiences a user has as they achieve a specific goal.

Accessibility is design, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities.

• Touch
• See
• Hear
• Speak

Define problem statements (who, what, where, when, why, & how)

________ (user name) is a/an ________ (user characteristics) who needs ________ (user need) because ________ (insight).

Define Hypothesis Statements

• If/then
• No standard formula

Value Proposition

Why a consumer should use a product or service.

• What does your product do? (clearly explain the offering that your product provides to users)
• What should they care? (describe how your product addresses users’ pain points)

Build Value Propositions

1. Describe your products’ features and benefits
2. Explain the value
3. Connect these features and benefits with the needs of your users
4. Review your official value proposition list

Ideation in the real world

Ideation – the process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no attempt to judge or evaluate them.

• Brainstorming out loud
• Document all ideas
• Focus on quantity
• Do now allow evaluation
• Gather a diverse team
• Question the obvious

Take a break, then evaluate the ideas.

Competitive Audit

An interview of your competitor’s strengths & weaknesses

• Identify key competitors
• Review the products they offer
• Understand how they position themselves in the market
• Examine what they do well & what they could do better

Direct Competitors – have offerings that are similar to your product and focus on the same audience.

Indirect Competitors – have a similar set of offerings but focus on a difference audience, or have a different set of offerings and focus on the same audience.

Benefits of a Competitive Audit

• Inform your design process
• Solve usability problems
• Reveal gaps in the market
• Provide reliable evidence
• Same time, money, and energy

Limitations

• Stifle creativity
• Depends on how well you interpret findings
• Not all designs work in all use cases
• Need to be done regularly

Steps for Audit

1. Outline the goals
2. Create spreadsheet with list of competitors (5-10 direct, 5-10 indirect)
3. Call out specific aspects to compare
4. Research each company (what do they do well or not?)
5. Analyze findings (similarities to your product and each other)
6. Summarize findings in report (screenshots and simple graphics)

Best Practices for Ideating

• Do creative warmup
• Make sure problem is well-defined
• Don’t judge your ideas
• Don’t judge others’ ideas
• Include a diverse group
• Ideate in a comfortable environment
• Don’t be afraid of sketching

The post Starting the UX Design Process appeared first on Craig Allen.

Grade: 92.77%

Here are a few highlights from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

The biggest thing I learned in this course is the importance of focusing on the user. As obvious as it sounds, keeping the user at the center is vital to create a product that will be successful and enjoyed the by them. This is why spending adequate time in the research process is critical because it will help guide the entire rest of the process.

Week 1: Foundations of the user experience (UX) design

Careers

Right now I’m mostly interested in being a designer, but could also see enjoying being a writer or even researcher. I’m fascinated by words, language, and communication, so anything that uses those things would be interesting.

I’ve always been pretty obsessed with how things look and how they work. I don’t consider myself an artist, but arranging things to look a certain way or improve how I interact with them has always been an interest.

I think I’ll enjoy the wireframing and prototyping the most.

Week 2: The User

Week 3: Design Sprints

Week 4: Research

1st rule is – THE USER COMES FIRST

Product life cycle / research

1. Brainstorm (foundational – what to build, solve problems, my biases)
2. Define
3. Design (how should we build it?)
4. Test
5. Launch (did we succeed?)

Research Methods

Types of research

• Primary
• Secondary
• Qualitative
• Quantitative

The post Foundations of UX Design appeared first on Craig Allen.

I have decided to start a 7 course series to obtain a Google UX Design Professional Certificate. I’ve been interested in design my whole life, but haven’t felt like I had the qualifications to integrate a complete UX process into my workflow. I only know what I’ve learned from my own observations and research over the years. So I figured it was time to make it a little more official.

The Courses

1. Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
2. Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
3. Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
4. Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts
5. Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma
6. Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites
7. Design a User Experience for Social Good & Prepare for Jobs

What I’ll learn

• Follow the design process: empathize with users, define pain points, ideate solutions, create wireframes and prototypes, test and iterate on designs
• Understand the basics of UX research, like planning research studies, conducting interviews and usability studies, and synthesizing research results
• Apply foundational UX concepts, like user-centered design, accessibility, and equity-focused design
• Create a professional UX portfolio that includes 3 end-to-end projects: a mobile app, a responsive website, and a cross-platform experience

Skills I’ll gain

• User Experience (UX)
• Prototype
• Wireframe
• User Experience Design (UXD)
• UX Research
• Mockups
• Figma
• Usability Testing
• UX design jobs

Prepare for a career in UX Design

• Receive professional-level training from Google
• Demonstrate your proficiency in portfolio-ready projects
• Earn an employer-recognized certificate from Google
• Qualify for in-demand job titles: User Experience (UX) Designer, UI Designer, Interaction Designer

I’m really excited to get started and I’ll be sharing my journey along the way!

The post Going back to school (again) appeared first on Craig Allen.

I created this website with WordPress to give their customers an user-friendly website that highlights their team, awards, and services.

Features

• Customized WordPress theme
• Font selection
• Team plugin implentation
• Blog layout customization

Home

Doulas

Blog

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I created this website with WordPress to give her customers an easy to use website that would show off her cookies and learn more about how to order them.

Features

• Logo design and color palette
• Font selection
• Customized WordPress theme
• Scrolling images and galleries

Home

Pricing

Cookies

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