Research

Every project starts with research. I will ask you questions about your business, your goals, your audience and what success looks like to you. Then I will turn around and ask your audience what their goals are and what they are expecting from you. I want to know everything about your organization and your project. I want to know your Story. So I can turn around and share that story with your audience.

Planning

“The beginning is the most important part of the work” – Plato

During the planning phase, I take in all the information gathered and create a strategy to get you to your goals. I do this by creating personas, S.M.A.R.T. goals and user journey maps. I also will outline fundamental assumptions for launch.

Content

Story telling is a fundamental part of my process. I want to make sure your content is aligned with your new goals. I use the core & paths method to make sure each piece of content helps support business and user goal. As well as confirm each piece of content takes you to another part of the story.

Sketching

Now that there is a clear content outline it’s time to start laying out the floor plans for your project. I start with the most important pages and work my way to the homepage of your site. Iterating often until I have something solid enough to prototype.

Prototyping & Design

I use this step to translate everything into a usable prototype. This allows you to see all the key components function as a unit to tell your story. Once you approve the prototype your project moves into design. I will work closely with the designers, conveying functionality and interactions.

Development & Launch

During development, I am available to make sure all designs are being transferred pixel-perfect. I will confirm functionality and interactions are being conveyed correctly. Once development is completed the site/app is ready for launch!

The post My Approach to UX Projects appeared first on Stephanie Elie.

An email comes in and I’m pumped, another website to dissect. I load up my browser with Google Analytics, SEMRush and Moz. Then open up SEOSpider and type in the URL…

and wait.

I like to think of myself as a Gladiator of the web. Olivia Pope fixes Washington. I fix websites.

Let me pause right here. Yes, Olivia Pope is a fictional character but she is bad ass.

I am bad ass at fixing people’s websites. Stick around and you will realize that I’m Shonda Rhimes #1 Scandal fan. I’m also a born-again screenwriter. Please accept my apologies, so we can move on.

Okay, let’s get back to my bad-ass-ness. Conducting website audits is one of my favorite things to do. I love dissecting the story you are trying to share with your users. I love uncovering how you users are getting lost within that story.

Stories are my thing. Understanding your story and your user’s journey is what helps me with your website audit.

10 Questions I ask every client before starting any website audit

1. What do you feel is wrong with the site now? Do your clients or customers feel the same way?
2. How much traffic is your site receiving? Do you have an analytics report we can review?
3. What are you doing to drive users to your site now?
4. What do you think we will find in the audit? What are you hoping to discover?
5. How often do you update the content on your site?
6. What are the business goals of the site? What do you want users to walk away with?
7. Who are your competitors in the space?
8. What keywords are relevant for your site? What keywords of phrases do you want your site to appear within the top 10 listings?
9. Do you have the resources to create and update content for your website?
10. Do you have a list of clients available to distribute a user survey to?

The post 10 Things I Need to Know Before Starting a Website Audit appeared first on Stephanie Elie.

I started my career as a web developer and then transitioned into project management and strategy when I couldn’t keep up (I blame the kids) with the ever changing technology. But I realize now, it wasn’t their fault, my real interest was in creating great user experiences and crafting great copy. Just like web development, there is ALWAYS something to learn so I’m always reading and researching. Here is a list of some of my favorite resources.

A List Apart
A List Apart explores the design, development, and meaning of web content, with a special focus on web standards and best practices.

Boxes and Arrows
Boxes and Arrows is devoted to the practice, innovation, and discussion of design; including graphic design, interaction design, information architecture and the design of business.

Conversion XL
CXL is the leading source for conversion optimization consulting and training for mid-market to enterprise level marketers.

UX Booth
The UX Booth is a publication by and for the user experience community.

UX Planet
UX Planet is a one-stop resource for everything related to user experience.

UX Mastery
Helps user experience professionals get started and get better.

User Experience Professionals Association

Think With Google
Put Google research and insight behind your thinking

Baymard Institute
Baymard tests and studies user behavior on e-commerce websites, documenting best practice web design patterns and strategies. Topics include web usability, UX design and e-commerce optimization.

UIE’s blog, mostly by Jared Spool

Information Architecture Institute
The Information Architecture Institute is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to advancing and promoting information architecture

Interaction Design Association
The Interaction Design Association (IxDA) is a member-supported organization dedicated to the discipline of interaction design.

Nielsen Norman Group
NN/g conducts groundbreaking research, evaluates user interfaces, and reports real findings. They also operate a User Experience Training and Certification program

UXdesign.cc
A medium magazine focused on user experience, usability, and product design.

Government Resources
Usability.Gov: https://www.usability.gov/
(UK) Government Digital Service blog: https://gds.blog.gov.uk/
18F (US government) blog: https://18f.gsa.gov/blog/

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