Moz Blog

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Quintessential Seattle Places to Visit During #MozCon 2014 Posted: 23 Jun 2014 03:00 AM PDT Posted by EricaMcGillivray We're gearing up for all of you to land in Seattle for  MozCon! It's just around the corner, July 14-16th, and as we do every year, we want to make sure you have a great time and get a chance to explore our city. (Or to just find a tasty place for dinner after a long day of learning.) If you haven't bought your ticket for MozCon,  do it now! We're quickly selling the last few tickets, and are over 93+% sold out. Buy your ticket today, and sign up for a 30-day free trial to get your Moz Subscriber best deal. (If you cancel because Moz Pro isn't for you, we'll see you at MozCon regardless.)  What is your quintessential Seattle place? This year, we asked Mozzers to name their quintessential Seattle place. They came up with a bunch of favorites, from breakfast spots to parks and more. Here's what they had to say: Dick's Drive-In Resturants "Delicious hamburgers and fries. It's cash only, and there's almost always a line. How Seattle." -  Joel Day Quinn's Pub "The best burger north of  Father's Office in Santa Monica and always a solid taplist." - David Mihm Editor's note: Quinn's Pub is also on our MozCrawl agenda. The Market Theater Gum Wall "I'm based in Mozlandia, and I love coming to Seattle and experiencing this great city. Gum wall is a truly gross tourist trap—actually, careful, you could indeed get trapped—and in the heart of tourism central, Pike Place Market. Still there's a charm to such an offbeat (though heavily touristed) spot." -  Peter Bray Pie Bar "Pie Bar = pie + booze. An array of whiskies. Local and craft beers on tap. Fresh pies, both savory and sweet, made daily. If they would let me move in, I'd just live there." -  Jess Stipe Black Bottle "Ah-mazing food! Not bad for happy hour. Broccoli blasted - need I say more?" -  Stefanie Riehle Petit Toulouse "Petit Toulouse in Queen Anne is the quintessential Seattle favorite when it comes to Cajun/Creole food. Petit Toulouse does not fail to impress every time I have been there. The atmosphere is superb and the food is out of this world. Additionally, I would recommend the buttermilk beignets after a good meal." - Marcin Narozny La Bete "I feel like it is the secret Cap Hill restaurant that only the neighborhood tends to frequent. The service is always great; the ambiance is always perfect for whatever occasion you are celebrating (romance, friendship, new boots, hunger); and it's a great place to sit at the bar, order a great glass of wine, and read by yourself. It's just good." -  Leah C. Tyler Serious Pie "This is the best pizza in the whole city. The community-style tables make for great conversation with strangers next to you. Great food, good beers. So fun." -  Nicelle Herron Belltown Pizza "If you're looking for pizza and are not into the odd California-style pizzas, this place has the best New York-style pizza in Seattle. Right off downtown, it's the first pizza joint I found in Seattle and is still the best IMHO." -  Phil Hildebrand Kayaking on Lake Union "You really get a feel for the Seattle landscape. Seeing the Space Needle, Gas Works Park, floating homes, wooden boats...all from a kayak on the water. Nothing better." -  Jackie Immel Revel "Some of the best food and drinks you'll find in the city (and that's saying a lot), and their patio in the summer is amazing." -  Rand Fishkin Ballard Locks "It's great to hang out in the sun and watch the boats go through the locks, plus the fish ladder is fun and free! The added bonus is that you're in Ballard so there are about fifty awesome breweries and bars at your fingertips." -  Jamie Seefurth World Spice Market "The proprietor here makes her own blends of spices, and everything is freshly ground or grind-at-home. Best spices. Try the Advieh - yum!" -  Lisa Wildwood Roux "Matt Lewis of the Where Ya At Matt? food truck started a brick and mortar restaurant, and it is good. Very good. With a updated French Creole menu, he has taken it to the next level, and we locals love it. Keep in mind, it's a bit of a trek from downtown, but there is plenty to explore throughout the rest of Fremont making it well worth the trip." -  Ben Simpson Pier 66 "You can see the Space Needle, Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier (on a clear day), and the Great Wheel. Such an amazing view!" -  Chiaryn Miranda Staple & Fancy "Fresh ingredients, dishes perfectly made, and an amazing chef's choice option." -  Megan Singley Biscuit Bitch at Caffe Lieto "Whether you need a pick-me-up in the morning or after some late night fun, Biscuit Bitch serves delicious Southern-style, with unique Seattle flare, biscuits and all the toppings you could want. I love their Bitchwitch sandwich. Just be prepared to eat it with a fork. They also have gluten-free options. Also make sure to use your favorite location check-in service and get a free sticker." -  Erica McGillivray Looking for more options? Don't miss our mega post from last year, Rand's personal recommendations, and Jon Colman's Seattle coffee guide. What's new in Seattle? Seattle's Waterfront, photo by Rachel Sarai, creative commons licensed We're always discovering new places to eat and enjoy in Seattle, and here are few that have opened up since last year's MozCon: Bars Chuck's Hop Shop Teachers Lounge Revolver Bar Radiator Whiskey Restaurants  Rhione XIII El Borracho Ramen Man Hanging out in Seattle longer than just for MozCon? There are tons of great Seattle events happening around MozCon. Here are a few, plus some special deals just for MozCon attendees. Want to see the MozPlex for yourself? We have office tours! Come visit the MozPlex and see where all the Moz magic happens. Plus, you'll get some fun swag. Soccer fan? See the Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers The Pacific Northwest's biggest rivalry is on Sunday, July 13th at 7:00 p.m. Get Low-Upper Deck seats (normally $25) for $18. Make sure to join our MozCon Facebook Group and make plans to see the game with other MozCon attendees. More of a baseball fan? See the A's vs. Mariners on Sunday, July 13th at 1:10 p.m. With the link above, get a special discount on Main Level tickets: normally $43-48 and now $25, just for you! Need a ride around town? Uber has some Seattle deals. All UberX rides are 25% off for the summer, and if you're a first time Uber customer, use the code SEAMOZ14 and get up to $30 off your first ride. Code expires 7/30/14. Want to see some local music? Don't miss GeekGirlCon's annual concert, featuring local nerdcore acts, Sunday, July 13th at 6:30pm. Come out an support a Settle nonprofit and enjoy the nerdcore rap of Shubzilla, DJ K91, NY artist Sammus, local trio Death*Star, and Jonny Nero Action Hero, who mixes beats with his Nintendo gaming systems. Love to run? Run or Dye 5k is Saturday, July 12th in nearby Lake Stevens. You can even run with fellow attendees as Dana Tan's organizing a group to run and have some fun. Interested in exploring some of Seattle's neighborhoods and cultural celebrations? Seattle's Chinatown-ID Dragon Fest 2014, Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th 40th Annual Ballard SeafoodFest, Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th Wedgwood Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th West Seattle Summer Fest, Friday through Sunday, July 11-13th Polish Festival Seattle, Saturday, July 12th Bastille Bash, Saturday, July 12th Georgetown Garden Walk, Sunday, July 13th White Center Jubilee Days Street Fair, Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20th Can't get enough beer? Head over to the peninsula for Bremerton Summer BrewFest, Saturday, July 12th. No one loves beer more than the Pacific Northwest (okay, maybe Bavaria...), and if you're looking for local brews, this is your best bet. Wish to experience Etsy offline? Go to Urban Craft Uprising, Seattle's largest indie craft show, for their summer edition, Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th. Shop local and find the perfect Seattle gift to bring home for your loved ones or yourself. A foodie and staying after MozCon? The Bite of Seattle, the Northwest's premier food festival, is Friday through Sunday, July 18-20th. It's a great way to try out a ton of different restaurants from around the area. I'm sure a few are on our must-eat lists. Who doesn't love local 4-H fairs? The King County Fair is Thursday through Sunday, July 17-20th in nearby Enumclaw. Check out the mutton busting, 4-H exhibits, fried food, and the rides. Hope you can find some fun and time to explore Seattle. Don't forget to  buy your MozCon ticket before we sell out! Sign up for The Moz Top 10, a semimonthly mailer updating you on the top ten hottest pieces of SEO news, tips, and rad links uncovered by the Moz team. Think of it as your exclusive digest of stuff you don't have time to hunt down but want to read!

What Can Mid-Century Design Teach You About User Experience? Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:11 PM PDT Posted by mariahayhow Verner Panton, a design revolutionary, once said, "You sit more comfortably on colours you like." A statement that seems to disregard logic, and focus strictly on the intangible relationships which dictate preferences. So what does this statement say about design, and more importantly, how can YOU apply this to your online marketing strategies? The answer is an investment in user experience: understanding how design can impact cognitive science and drive decisions. Here are a few stories around Panton's designs and the insights they lend in creating successful online user experiences today.  Why invest in UX? Panton worked during a wonderfully whimsy time for furniture design, helping to shaping the late 1950's Pop movement by making waves with his neon swimming pool design. Panton's focus on design that provides function and evokes emotion can be seen across his eccentric pieces and even in current day design practices. User experience is largely a subjective field, making it difficult to directly correlate qualitative metrics to various UX efforts and initiatives. For online efforts, attribution may prove difficult as it deals with users' emotions, an increase in conversions and drop in bounce rates are signs in line with the intentions of enhanced user experience. Analysis by the Design Management Institute shows how design-driven companies outperformed others by 228% through efforts like creating streamlined user experiences. Design-driven companies have effectively sold more product and made more profit, by providing unique experiences, at each touch point of their relationship with customers. Facilitating a stakeholder workshop can effectively gather requirements while increasing alignment among stakeholders.  How do you validate UX design? Panton's Cone chair was a piece he created for his parents' restaurant. The Cone chair was so admired by a restaurant customer they offered to put it into production. Post-production the Cone chair was briefly on display in a Fifth Avenue shop in New York, where it was removed due to the large crowds it attracted. User experience is centered on perception. With the proliferation of user interfaces it is of the utmost importance to focus on the individual user's experience, while considering the collective experiences of the target audience.  In order to validate your user's/users' experience concepts, it is important to take a systematic approach. The following Validation stack, by Cennyd Bowles, shows the close relationship between design theory, user research, and evidence; together, these effectively validate UX concepts. The validation stack requires you to provide recommendations that build off of one another and are driven by data. Backing up your argument with early buy-in from stakeholders and iterative user testing can both improve your argument for UX and strengthen your concepts. Ways to improve UX Panton's S chair, a single legless piece of cantilevered plastic, graced VOGUE in 1995 with Kate Moss sitting naked atop it. The chair remains an icon of pop movement design, and is rumored to have been inspired by a pile of plastic buckets. The design was made to maintain consistency, with the choice of one seamless material, and functionality, with its smooth stacking ability. UX design calls for both consistency and functionality in order to limit distractions and guide users' decisions. Usability: Increase ease of use  Examine the full user path by watching them go through the site and conversion funnel. Asking the user how they think about or through the site and its use to them. (Tool to use: UserTesting.com)  Informational design: Create visual hierarchy  Use data to drive design decisions. Track common on-site behaviors to adjust site layout or page layout. (Tool to use: Simple Mouse tracking)  Content strategy: Incorporate personality Track your brand's tone of voice across all platforms. (Tools to use are discussed in Distilled's Content Guide) An array of potential users should be observed over time, as users' experiences and influences continually affect their decision-making process. How does brand communication improve UX? Panton's Living Tower is an impressive 2-meter high structure with unique cut-outs, designed to encourage communication. The oddly amoeba-esque cut outs in the furniture encouraged people to sit in seemingly un-conventional positions, while prompting conversation. User experience efforts can be amplified by creating a space and prompt for conversation. Brands engaging with users on social and feedback channels should have the goal to meet their target market where they are or host a conversation their user/audience would like to have. Before building or creating a social strategy for a brand it is important to ask the following questions... How is the social platform aligned to the brand?  Why would users choose to engage in a dialogue with a brand on this platform?  What value-add could the social platform provide for users? When would it be most helpful for a user to communicate with the brand?  Researching the types of discussions users are already prompting, about your competitors or industry, can help to uncover potential opportunities for social media strategy and content creation. Then measure social channels' impact through network referrals, conversions, and landing page visit analytics.  Why user-centered design for user experience?  Panton studied under Arne Jacobsen, who worked with him to create the Ant chair. The chair was commissioned specifically for a large Danish pharmaceutical company's cafeteria. The chair base was designed to be comfortable, lightweight and stackable. The choice to use only three legs was in an attempt to minimize hitting furniture against people's legs or other furniture, during their lunch hour. User experience efforts should be grounded in similar methodologies, giving users additional functionality without compromising on a seamless experience. Striking a balance of trust, motivation and functionality can ultimately drive a greater user experience. Working with and learning from users' patterns, through both qualitative and quantitative testing and tracking. How have you incorporated UX elements, principles, and methodologies into your online marketing strategies? Looking forward to hearing from the Moz community! Here's a resource for those of you who'd like to read more about Panton's views on individual colors and color psychology. Sign up for The Moz Top 10, a semimonthly mailer updating you on the top ten hottest pieces of SEO news, tips, and rad links uncovered by the Moz team. Think of it as your exclusive digest of stuff you don't have time to hunt down but want to read!

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