Boagworld: UX, Design Leadership, Marketing & Conversion Optimization

By: Paul Boag Marcus Lillington
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  • Summary

  • Boagworld: The podcast where digital best practices meets a terrible sense of humor! Join us for a relaxed chat about all things digital design. We dish out practical advice and industry insights, all wrapped up in friendly conversation. Whether you're looking to improve your user experience, boost your conversion or be a better design lead, we've got something for you. With over 400 episodes, we're like the cool grandads of web design podcasts – experienced, slightly inappropriate, but always entertaining. So grab a drink, get comfy, and join us for an entertaining journey through the life of a digital professional.
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Episodes
  • WP Engine vs WordPress, SUPA, and AI-Powered UX Reviews

    WP Engine vs WordPress, SUPA, and AI-Powered UX Reviews
    Nov 21 2024

    Hello and welcome to the Boagworld Show, the longest-running web design podcast where we look at user experience design, conversion optimization, and working in the web. This week, we've got quite the lineup for you.

    WP Engine vs WordPress: A Cautionary Tale

    We kick things off with a look at the recent controversy between WP Engine and WordPress. It's a bit of a mess, to be honest. WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources, including plugin and theme updates. This has left a lot of WP Engine-hosted sites in a bit of a pickle.

    The whole debacle seems to stem from an attempt by WordPress to extract money from WP Engine. It's a stark reminder of the dangers of building your business on someone else's platform. We've seen this happen before with companies like Tweetbot and various Amazon sellers. It's a risk that many businesses take, often without fully considering the potential consequences.

    While we hope this situation resolves quickly, it's a valuable lesson for all of us in the web industry. It's crucial to have a strategy that doesn't rely entirely on a single platform or service that you don't control.

    Introducing SUPA: A New Approach to Discovery Phases

    Next up, we introduce our new concept: Strategic User-Driven Project Assessment, or SUPA for short. Now, Marcus isn't a fan of the acronym, but hear us out on this one.

    SUPA is essentially a rebranding of the discovery phase, aimed at making it more appealing and understandable to senior management. Let's face it, "discovery phase" doesn't exactly set executives' hearts racing. But when you start talking about resource optimization, increased chances of success, and risk mitigation - well, now you're speaking their language.

    The idea behind SUPA is to bring UX considerations to the table earlier in the project lifecycle. It's about validating ideas against real user needs and market demands before significant resources are invested. This approach can help prevent wasted time and money on projects that users won't embrace.

    We dive into the key questions SUPA addresses, the activities involved, and how it differs from traditional market research. Whether you love or hate the acronym, we think this approach could be a game-changer for UX professionals looking to have a more strategic impact on projects.

    You can learn more about SUPA here.

    AI-Powered UX Reviews: Friend or Foe?

    Our app of the week is Wevo Pulse, an AI tool that provides real-time feedback and analysis on websites, prototypes, and messaging. Paul's a bit conflicted about this one - it's impressive, but also a bit unsettling for those of us who do UX reviews for a living.

    Wevo Pulse uses data from over a million user research participants to produce insights in minutes. It can analyze live websites, mobile apps, prototypes, and more. The tool provides a detailed assessment of what users are likely to like and dislike about a digital asset, and even generates a list of the most likely personas to gain value from the website or prototype being analyzed.

    While it's not perfect and can't replace human expertise entirely, it's a powerful tool that could be particularly useful for quick initial assessments or as a way to convince management that changes are needed. It's definitely worth checking out, even if just to see how it evaluates your own website.

    UX Quotes: Agree or Disagree?

    We wrap up the show with a bit of fun, debating some popular UX quotes. From "A problem well stated is a problem half solved" to "Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really how it works," we give our honest opinions on these industry soundbites.

    Spoiler alert: we don't agree with all of them! It's a great reminder that even widely accepted wisdom in our field should be questioned and critically examined.

    That's all for this week's episode. We hope you found it informative and maybe even a bit entertaining.

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    52 mins
  • Navigating the Future: AI, UX Leadership, and Content Simplification

    Navigating the Future: AI, UX Leadership, and Content Simplification
    Nov 7 2024
    The State of the Industry and AI's ImpactWe kick off this episode by delving into the current state of the tech industry, particularly focusing on the widespread budget cuts we're witnessing. What's driving these cuts? Is it the rise of AI, economic uncertainties, or perhaps a tech bubble bursting? We explore these possibilities and ponder whether UX might be falling out of fashion.See Also: The Shifting Landscape of UX: What’s Really Happening?Speaking of AI, we couldn't resist discussing a fascinating conversation between Cleo Abram and Mark Zuckerberg. It's a prime example of how some tech leaders are approaching innovation - starting with what's technologically possible rather than addressing actual user needs. This approach raises important questions about the direction of tech development and its impact on user experience.App of the Week: Framer - More Than Just a Website BuilderThis week, we're shining a spotlight on Framer. While it positions itself as a website builder, we've found it to be an incredibly useful prototyping tool. Figma users, before you roll your eyes, hear us out. Framer offers some key features that Figma's prototyping tools lack, such as breakpoints and interactive forms.If you're looking to create high-fidelity prototypes of interactive experiences, Framer might just be the tool you've been searching for. It's especially handy when Figma's prototyping capabilities fall short.As a bonus, we also briefly mention two other apps that caught our attention: FixKey.ai and ChatGPT Advanced Voice. The latter ties into an interesting AI customer support experience we've had recently - but you'll have to tune in to hear more about that!The Challenges of Design Leadership: Are UX Leaders Set Up to Fail?In this segment, we tackle a crucial issue in the UX world: the challenges faced by design leaders. We argue that many UX leaders are being set up to fail, often not given the resources they need to address UX problems at scale. As discussed in the podcast, companies might have 200 developers but only 5 UX people, which is far from ideal.We discuss how the role of a UX leader requires a different skill set compared to that of a UX designer. These skills include:making business cases,reporting successes,championing your team's value,developing strategies,navigating politics,dealing with clashing priorities,and running a team.Yet, many organizations promote designers into leadership roles without providing the necessary training or support.See Also: Design Leadership MasterclassWe offer advice for those finding themselves in this position, including:Setting your own agenda and direction rather than accepting how others define your role. As a UX leader, it's crucial to take control of your role and not let others dictate your responsibilities. This means proactively defining your priorities and how you can best contribute to the organization's goals.Working strategically by focusing on setting standards and creating resources. Instead of getting bogged down in day-to-day tasks, concentrate on developing UX guidelines, best practices, and tools that can be used across the organization. This strategic approach helps scale your impact.Acting as an internal consultant and training teams on UX practices. Position yourself as a UX expert within the organization. Offer guidance and education to other teams, helping them incorporate UX principles into their work. This approach helps spread UX knowledge throughout the company.Being assertive about your role and responsibilities. Don't be afraid to speak up about what you and your team should be doing. Clearly communicate your role, its importance, and how it contributes to the organization's success.Making strategic allies within the organization. Identify and build relationships with key stakeholders who understand and value UX. As Paul suggests, "make a point of going out and finding people in the organization that get UX and appreciate UX" and "really lean into those relationships."Investing significant energy in promoting your team's impact. Actively showcase the value your UX team brings to the organization. As mentioned in the show, "invest significant energy in not only doing work, but in actively promoting your impact in the organization." This could involve creating case studies, presenting success stories, or demonstrating how UX improvements have positively affected key business metrics.We also stress the importance of finding external support through coaching, training, or joining a community of design leaders. This can help combat the isolation often felt in leadership roles and provide valuable outside perspectives.Interesting Reads of the WeekWe wrap up with a few interesting articles that caught our attention:Workshops aren't always necessary: A thought-provoking article challenges the notion that every problem needs a workshop solution. It emphasizes the importance of using discretion when deciding whether to conduct a workshop. ...
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    59 mins
  • Transforming UX Teams From Reactive to Strategic

    Transforming UX Teams From Reactive to Strategic
    Oct 24 2024
    Transforming UX Teams - From Reactive to StrategicIn this episode, we explore how UX teams can evolve from firefighters to strategic leaders, revolutionizing their impact on organizations. We also review Maze, a versatile UX testing platform, and share insightful reads of the week.Revolutionizing UX Teams: From Firefighters to Strategic LeadersIn today's episode, we delve into the evolving role of UX teams within large organizations. We've noticed a recurring issue: UX teams are often understaffed and overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with the demands of multiple projects and numerous developers. This situation leads to a reactive approach, where UX professionals find themselves constantly putting out fires rather than driving strategic initiatives.Redefining the UX Team's RoleWe propose a shift in thinking about UX teams. Instead of viewing them as implementers who should be involved in every project, we suggest repositioning them as leaders, educators, and enablers of UX practices across the organization. This approach allows a small UX team to have a much broader impact.Four Pillars of an Effective UX TeamBased on our experience, including recent work with Oxford University, we've identified four key areas where UX teams can focus to maximize their impact:Creating Shared Resources: Develop design systems, UX playbooks, and design principles that can be used across the organization.Providing Training: Offer workshops, presentations, and self-learning materials to empower others in the organization to incorporate UX practices into their work.Offering Consultative Services: Provide strategic UX support through reviews, discovery sessions, and advisory roles without getting bogged down in execution.Building a UX Community: Foster a network of UX advocates across the organization to share best practices and promote user-centered thinking.Overcoming Resistance and Gaining Buy-InWe discuss the challenges of implementing this approach, including varying levels of acceptance across different departments. Our advice? Start with the enthusiastic early adopters, demonstrate success, and use these wins to encourage broader adoption.The Benefits of a Strategic UX TeamBy repositioning UX teams as strategic leaders rather than just implementers, organizations can:Increase the reach and impact of UX practices across the organizationEmpower more team members to consider user needs in their workReduce bottlenecks in the development processFoster a more user-centered culture throughout the companyConclusion: A Call for EvolutionWe believe it's time for UX teams to evolve beyond their traditional roles. By focusing on leadership, education, and enablement, these teams can drive significant improvements in user experience across entire organizations, even with limited resources.See Also: Paul’s Design Leadership MasterclassFrom the Toolbox: Maze - A Versatile UX Testing PlatformIn our "App of the Week" segment, we spotlight Maze, a comprehensive UX testing platform that's been gaining traction in the design community. Maze offers a range of features that make it a valuable tool for UX professionals and teams of all sizes.Key Features of MazeInterview Studies: Conduct and analyze user interviews efficiently.Prototype Testing: Test your designs before development to catch issues early.Surveys: Gather quantitative data from your users.Card Sorting: Understand how users categorize and prioritize information.Tree Testing: Evaluate the effectiveness of your information architecture.Live Website Testing: Get feedback on existing websites.Pricing and AccessibilityMaze offers a free tier for those looking to try it out, with paid plans starting at $99 per month. This pricing structure makes it accessible for both individual designers and larger teams.Our Experience with MazeWe've found Maze particularly useful for its ability to provide quick, data-driven insights. The platform's automated analysis features, such as success rates and heatmaps, can save significant time in interpreting test results. However, we caution against relying solely on these metrics without diving deeper into the qualitative data.Tips for Using Maze EffectivelyCarefully craft your test scenarios to avoid ambiguity.Pilot your tests before sending them out to catch any issues with instructions or tasks.Look beyond the surface-level metrics to understand the full user journey.Use Maze in conjunction with other research methods for a well-rounded understanding of your users.Whether you're a seasoned UX professional or just starting out, Maze offers a robust set of tools to enhance your user research and testing capabilities. Give it a try and let us know how it works for you!Interesting Reads of the WeekWe've come across some thought-provoking articles this week that we'd like to share with you. Each of these pieces offers valuable insights for web professionals, from sales processes to design tools and user experience best practices.Step-By-Step Web ...
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    55 mins

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