How about getting out of your comfort zone? Just one day of research can bring you amazing insights. Our guest today is Liston Witherill, marketer and CEO of Good Funnel. You'll learn how to perform the most effective research activities: customer interviews, passive research, analytics, and competitor analysis. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Good Funnel — Listo...
Apr 20, 2017•41 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Pricing is hard! But it's particularly challenging for designers, when the value of your work is so intangible. Our guest today is Nathan Allotey — web designer, digital marketing strategist, and the author of Freelance Jumpstart. Our goal is to help you create your own successful pricing strategy! We talk about different ways of charging for design work, explaining value, hourly vs daily billing, tiers, packages, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss i...
Apr 14, 2017•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is an extraordinary plus-size interview with an outstanding guest — Claire Suellentrop of Love Your Customer, previously Director of Marketing and employee #2 at Calendly. You'll hear her best advice on a range of topics: customer interviews, landing pages, user onboarding, gaining traction, content marketing, and much more. You'll also learn an intriguing story how she got started with Calendly. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app,...
Apr 10, 2017•1 hr 7 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast How do you design products that people are actually going to use? Many answers hide in behavioral psychology. Our guest today is Susan Weinschenk, Ph.D. — a famous speaker, author, and behavioral scientist. How do you grab and hold user's attention? Why are micro-interactions so important? What are the seven drivers of motivation? We discuss these questions (and much more) in this value-packed interview. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast a...
Mar 31, 2017•59 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast We all understand the value of UX reviews (also known as usability reviews or UI/UX audits). But how do you document your expert opinion? Today our guest is Jean-Michel Lacroix — co-founder of Capian, a tool for conducting usability reviews. You'll learn what hardships UX consultants face while documenting their reviews, why enterprise clients always ask for PDF reports, and why branding matters. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and ...
Mar 23, 2017•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you grow an audience of true fans who trust you? How do you define your tribe? Our guest today is Paul Jarvis — a famous designer, author, and entrepreneur. Paul talks about the four components of his marketing formula and his unique way of doing business online. You'll learn how to build trust, fearlessly launch products, manage expectations, and grow a focused mailing list. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on i...
Mar 16, 2017•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you make sure your design efforts are effective? There's no bigger mistake than just guess! Brent Palmer, a design lead at Zendesk, walks us through the tools and methods for data-driven design. You'll learn how to approach customer research the right way, why testing is important, and how to deal with the research results. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes ...
Mar 09, 2017•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are thousands of apps out there, dozens for every possible task. But how do you pick the right tools? How do you put together a toolbox that fits your own work process? Our guest today is Francesca Geens, the founder of Digital Dragonfly — a technology and productivity consultancy. We review the principles of human productivity, and then discuss popular tools for to-do lists, email, project management, and CRM systems. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in yo...
Mar 03, 2017•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's episode fifty today! For this little anniversary, I invited my very first guest from episode one. Dennis Field is a famous design educator and entrepreneur, and also a brand evangelist at InVision. Today we discuss how creative individuals can partner up with large companies and become their evangelists. You'll learn how such relationships benefit both parties, how everything works, and how to get started with the brand you love. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441...
Feb 24, 2017•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special behind-the-scenes episode you'll meet Benedikt Decke who helped me build and launch Tiny Reminder (the new productivity tool for freelancers and consultants). Benedikt is a talented software engineer, awesome consultant, and founder of of Stage CMS. We talk through the entire process "from idea to launch" — how we determined the scope for the MVP, how we launched it, why we switched to the freemium model, and what we plan to do in the future. Podcast feed: subscribe to ...
Feb 12, 2017•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we'll talk about reverse-engineering. You can apply this thought process virtually anywhere — in choosing the right client or the right lifestyle. Our special guest is Drew Thomas, an ecommerce expert and seasoned entrepreneur. We talk about our agency experiences in the past, and why we can "do what we want" these days. You'll learn how to start with the most important criteria, and work your way backwards to the desired client or lifestyle. Download the MP3 audio file: right-cl...
Feb 03, 2017•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pattern libraries can help you streamline the design process and build a flexible system (instead of static pages). Today we're exploring this concept with Laura Elizabeth — a fantastic designer, writer & speaker. You'll learn how to plan and build a pattern library, how to document it, and how to make your clients fall in love with the result. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show Notes Doubl...
Jan 27, 2017•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you go about finding a mentor? Today our guest is Greg Gilbert, a serial entrepreneur and founder of multiple companies. Greg shares his great story of being mentored and becoming a mentor himself. You'll learn why mentoring is different from coaching or mastermind groups, how to find the right person, and how to start the relationship at the right terms. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Sh...
Jan 05, 2017•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Email marketing for software products differs from classic content marketing. We're looking into that today! Our special guest is Christoph Engelhardt, the founder of LinksSpy and the author of SaaS Email Marketing Handbook. You'll learn about the best practices, what campaigns work best during different lifecycle stages, and how users communicate with your software through transactional emails and reports. Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscribe...
Dec 29, 2016•45 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Social media these days resembles a war of bots. However, it's still a powerful tool — if you do it right. Today's guest, Mojca Mars of Super Spicy Media, helps people find their voice and become successful in social media marketing. You'll learn what formats and visuals work best, what you should write about, how to approach advertising, and how to do genuine, helpful outreach. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTune...
Dec 22, 2016•44 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast We're back after a short break! Today we're exploring user experience in online stores. Our special guest is Kurt Elster, the guru of ecommerce and the founder of Ethercycle. We break down the entire purchasing flow and explore design specifics of each step: product list, item description, shopping cart, and checkout. You'll learn how to showcase your products, reduce friction, and motivate your customers. Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscribe ...
Dec 15, 2016•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hiring a good designer has never been easy! Today I'm talking to Sarah Doody — a guru UX designer, teacher, and writer from New York City. You'll learn how to approach the hiring process in your particular case, whether education matters, how to navigate in the variety of design professions, and what skills to look for. Designers, on the other side, will get an insight how to better present themselves. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app...
Nov 24, 2016•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Writing proposals isn't fun, but they're a crucial part of any design project. Today our guest is Nathan Powell — designer, author, and founder of Nusii (online proposal software). You'll learn how to do discovery work, what to include in your proposal, how to structure it, and how tiered pricing can help you make an unbeatable offer. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show Notes Nusii — Nathan's Sa...
Nov 17, 2016•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Design or development? You can say "yes" to both! Today we're exploring the story of Sacha Greif, the founder of Sidebar.io and the author of Discover Meteor. He successfully combines the roles of a designer and a developer, and achieves results in both fields (all while being a community star). Join us to hear about his straightforward approach to life, projects, and the learning process. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, a...
Nov 10, 2016•29 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Smart, narrow positioning is the key to success for anyone who sells their services. Who is your best customer? What kind of work do you want to be famous for? The world-class positioning expert Philip Morgan gives away a ton of actionable advice on this topic. You'll learn how to stop being a generalist, quit the pricing game, and become a successful specialist by employing your best talent. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and foll...
Nov 03, 2016•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Your creative skills aren't worth much until you practice them regularly. But how do you find time for that? Our special guest today is Shawn Blanc — author of The Focus Course, a creative entrepreneur, and my role model from years ago. You'll learn how to set goals, avoid distractions, build personal integrity, adopt the right habits, and live a truly focused life. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher...
Oct 27, 2016•52 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Customer support is the key part of user experience. But how do you handle it right? Our guest today is Alex Yumashev, the founder of JitBit Helpdesk, who has been in this industry for many years. You'll learn why customer support can't be a temporary job, how to approach it in a human way, and why even CEOs should still be doing support on a regular basis. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show No...
Oct 20, 2016•36 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast When does A/B testing have a positive impact on your business? How do you make intelligent, informed decisions? How do you prevent your ego and past experience from interfering? Today our guest Nick Disabato, my good friend and a world-class expert in A/B testing, talks about his research-driven work process and his humble philosophy. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show Notes Draft — Nick's solo...
Oct 13, 2016•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dear friends, the podcast is finally back after the break! Our guest today is Heidi Pun, my designer friend from Slovenia. We talk about The Design Superpower — a free email course we just launched. We break down the entire process: how we came up with the idea, solicited articles from the top design superheroes, put the course together, and launched it across multiple platforms. If you're planning a product launch anytime soon, our takeaways will be super-valuable! Podcast feed: subscribe to ht...
Oct 06, 2016•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Instructional design is about teaching people and designing training materials. Our special guest today is Stacey Howe-Lott — a guru of instructional design who helped dozens of entrepreneurs develop successful online courses and training programs. In this episode you'll learn how to approach any educational activity, set realistic objectives, counteract conventional wisdom for the "surprise" learning effect, and structure various types of courses. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://sim...
Sep 09, 2016•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Content collection is a big, unsexy problem of every project. Our guest Kelsey Kreiling of Presence Agency (famous for their service called Week of the Website) mastered this skill to perfection. Her secret sauce is a framework that shapes the entire relationship with a client — from the first meeting to the project hand-off. Kelsey's tips will help anyone who deals with unresponsive clients and tight deadlines! Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite p...
Sep 02, 2016•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast To get ahead in your UI/UX career, you need to start writing about design at some point. Our guest Ben Gremillion, content designer at UXPin, will give you the best writing guidance. In this episode you'll learn how to pick a topic for your design article, structure it, capture your ideas, create illustrations, and edit the final piece for the best results. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show No...
Aug 25, 2016•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we're diving into conversion rate optimization with our special guest Momoko Price of Kantan Designs. You'll learn why research is key to any CRO activity, why elimination testing is awesome, what tools you can use to split-test your pages, and how to plan the entire testing process. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes or Stitcher. Show Notes Momoko's company: Kantan Designs Copy Hackers by Joanna...
Aug 17, 2016•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Discovering customer motivation is the core part of UX research! Today you'll learn to do it using Jobs to Be Done methodology (JTBD). Our special guest is Eric White, a customer-insight consultant who helps businesses understand why their customers buy. You'll discover the JTBD principles, and learn how to run an effective customer interview. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, or follow us on iTunes. Show Notes Intercom on Jobs-To-Be-...
Aug 11, 2016•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we're exploring a very unique, creative approach to user experience design. Andy Parker, digital consultant and UX designer, is a big fan of collaborative onsite workshops. You'll learn how to get all decision-makers together in one room, and how to solve design challenges with creative games and exercises. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1441/rss in your favorite podcast app, or follow us on iTunes. Show Notes Happy Startup School Episode 8: Writing the ...
Aug 01, 2016•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
