In this edition of Web Enlightenment we'll be talking about just right troubles and what they have to do with wood and glass construction.

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Just Right Troubles, Wood and Glass

There are a half dozen basic parts to any web operation - and some of them tolerate errors far better than others. If you try and operate a part the doesn't tolerate errors - a "Just Right" segment - like it does accept them, you'll find yourself in trouble pretty quick.

Sites start with a plan - plans tend to tolerate and contain a vast number of errors. So long as they are adjustable based on new information you won't have any problems.

Design usually allows for some problems , as a guy like me can tell you it is not fatal to be unattractive. On rare occasions design errors mean that some folks can't see or access your information and that can be trouble. This can happen when a site is designed with a specific browser/screen size in mind and then it ends up getting used on a different one.

Content usually allows for lots of errors and it is always a work in progress anyway. The only place where content problems can really bite you are technical specifications and things like that - if you say a product is 24" wide and in fact it is 18" wide you can expect returns and unhappy customers.

Functionality is the big spot where just right troubles occur - email collection systems, shopping carts, product review systems , anything that has any sort of an "application" or "software" feel - that often requires that everything be just right. The real trouble occurs when you work with folks that don't really understand this - there is an old programmer giggle and it remains true today: "There is perfect, and there is garbage". This is a world where a single comma out of place can make an entire site stop operating.

Marketing is unusual in that some parts of it tolerate lots of errors and some parts don't. If your tagline is inconsistent and your messaging is not all that it should be - you'll usually find that to not be a significant problem. When it comes to technical type stuff like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and especially cost per click marketing - if it isn't just right, it is wrong, and that is big trouble.

Analysis is an area that lots of folks are confused about - I think this is a no errors allowed spot that leads to just right troubles all the time but many people disagree. I suppose if you simply look at web metrics and don't actually do much to your site as a result of what they say then not interpreting them correctly is not a huge problem - even though failing to use your stats to improve your site sure is.

As an Internet Entrepreneur here is what you need to know and understand: some web work is like glass construction and some is like wood.

When you are working in "wood" (things that tolerate errors) you can have trouble and get around it in many ways. You can use wood filler, you can trim and cut pieces that are in place, you can add additional pieces or use really strong fasteners to make up for any error or problem you may have had.

The other end of the spectrum is making buildings out of glass - brittle, fragile, and with precision requirements. If your frame is not just right or if the support structure moves even just a little bit - whammo, you have a pile of rubble.

As a site owner the important thing to remember is that these jobs are very different and you want to make sure you have the right person assigned to each task. The carpenter who makes a beautiful wood house and the engineer that makes an amazing glass structure both keep the rain off your head - but they work in a very different way.

The most serious issues of just right trouble occur when you try and use a wood carpenter to do engineers work or vice versa.

Social Media Breakfast July 30th

I am pleased to let everyone know that I have been invited to speak at the next SMBME (Social Media Breakfast Maine) event in Portland.

The title of the event is "Using Social Media for Marketing and PR", I'll be speaking about overcoming objections and measuring results.

The breakfast is on Friday July 30th from 7:30 AM to 10AM, you can find all the details and register to attend by clicking here.