Comments for Internet Psychologist ยป Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk Helping Businesses Connect to their Online Customers Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:57:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Search behaviour is not what you have been told by Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/search/search-behaviour-is-not-what-you-have-been-told.html#comment-2251 Graham Jones Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:57:37 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5854#comment-2251 Thanks for the additional info Shaun. I think you raise a good point about the length of search terms and their relationship to depth of searching - that's something the studies I wrote about did not investigate. Also I think you raise another valid issue, which is the motivation behind the search. It is all a much more complex area than many "search gurus" would have us believe...! Thanks for the additional info Shaun. I think you raise a good point about the length of search terms and their relationship to depth of searching – that’s something the studies I wrote about did not investigate. Also I think you raise another valid issue, which is the motivation behind the search. It is all a much more complex area than many “search gurus” would have us believe…!

]]> Comment on Search behaviour is not what you have been told by Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/search/search-behaviour-is-not-what-you-have-been-told.html#comment-2250 Graham Jones Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:55:00 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5854#comment-2250 Thanks Gideon - that's another point well worth considering; the eye-tracking studies are almost always on test conditions and not necessarily reflecting the "real world". In research terms you have to question their "ecological validity". Thanks Gideon – that’s another point well worth considering; the eye-tracking studies are almost always on test conditions and not necessarily reflecting the “real world”. In research terms you have to question their “ecological validity”.

]]> Comment on Search behaviour is not what you have been told by Shaun Measday http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/search/search-behaviour-is-not-what-you-have-been-told.html#comment-2247 Shaun Measday Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:56:38 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5854#comment-2247 Hi Graham, interesting article. I think we probably have some more accurate data - 42% of all people will go to the 1st ranked web site and go no further. 27% to the 2nd site, 20% to the third site and then a decreasing number down the top 10. This is an average taken across a wide range of keywords and industries, so am sure that it will skew wildly dependent on the search term. If someone is looking for info / research, it stands to reason that they will visit many more sites in an effort to get as much info as possible - if they are looking to buy a book , and the first website has it in stock and at a good price, chances are that's the end of their journey. The other factor which drives the number of sites people visit is the overall search volume is the number of searches on a keyword. So searchterms with massive volumes behind them will see your site on the 2nd page still pick up some traffic ( think one word and two word search terms ). More long tail specific terms rarely get traffic get past the 1st page. All the best, Shaun Hi Graham, interesting article. I think we probably have some more accurate data – 42% of all people will go to the 1st ranked web site and go no further. 27% to the 2nd site, 20% to the third site and then a decreasing number down the top 10.

This is an average taken across a wide range of keywords and industries, so am sure that it will skew wildly dependent on the search term.

If someone is looking for info / research, it stands to reason that they will visit many more sites in an effort to get as much info as possible – if they are looking to buy a book , and the first website has it in stock and at a good price, chances are that’s the end of their journey.
The other factor which drives the number of sites people visit is the overall search volume is the number of searches on a keyword.
So searchterms with massive volumes behind them will see your site on the 2nd page still pick up some traffic ( think one word and two word search terms ).
More long tail specific terms rarely get traffic get past the 1st page.

All the best,

Shaun

]]> Comment on Search behaviour is not what you have been told by Gideon http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/search/search-behaviour-is-not-what-you-have-been-told.html#comment-2246 Gideon Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:53:01 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5854#comment-2246 Hi Graham I hope you're well and I think you're right. So much depends on what people are looking for and why they're looking for it; this is something the eye-tracking surveys never really encompassed - those tests were done in a way that, I suspect, had the effect of circumventing peoples' natural search habits ie if you're interested in something - specific or general, in a hurry or not - you'll search in 'your' way but if I sit you down in a test and are asked to search for 'blah blah' you're not interested in the results other than in the exam sense of 'I've finished!'. More website owners and SEOs should concentrate on the meta titles... it's where you can gain the competitive advantage - even when you're behind in the SERPs. PS At time of writing T Marketing website isn't up but will be in next few days! Hi Graham
I hope you’re well and I think you’re right.
So much depends on what people are looking for and why they’re looking for it; this is something the eye-tracking surveys never really encompassed – those tests were done in a way that, I suspect, had the effect of circumventing peoples’ natural search habits ie if you’re interested in something – specific or general, in a hurry or not – you’ll search in ‘your’ way but if I sit you down in a test and are asked to search for ‘blah blah’ you’re not interested in the results other than in the exam sense of ‘I’ve finished!’.
More website owners and SEOs should concentrate on the meta titles… it’s where you can gain the competitive advantage – even when you’re behind in the SERPs.
PS At time of writing T Marketing website isn’t up but will be in next few days!

]]> Comment on Twitter users prefer information to being social by Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/social/twitter-users-prefer-information-to-being-social.html#comment-2031 Graham Jones Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:53:45 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5727#comment-2031 Thanks for your comment Melanie. I agree - companies have a long way to go to truly understand the social web. Thanks for your comment Melanie. I agree – companies have a long way to go to truly understand the social web.

]]> Comment on Twitter users prefer information to being social by Melanie Hetfield http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/social/twitter-users-prefer-information-to-being-social.html#comment-2028 Melanie Hetfield Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:25:12 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5727#comment-2028 Good Article Graham, I think the difference between Twitter and Facebook is that Facebook is set for family sharing which is more personal. Companies I don't think have still got the hand of Social Media, hence the many company profiles that just send adverts out all the time. Chat and make it social!! @melaniehetfield Good Article Graham, I think the difference between Twitter and Facebook is that Facebook is set for family sharing which is more personal. Companies I don’t think have still got the hand of Social Media, hence the many company profiles that just send adverts out all the time. Chat and make it social!!

@melaniehetfield

]]> Comment on Profile pictures online should be baby-faced by Roberta http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/profile-pictures-online-should-be-baby-faced.html#comment-1774 Roberta Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:08:33 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5691#comment-1774 I recently changed my avatar picture on Twitter after a couple of years with the same one. The old one was a slightly sideways head and shoulders shot of me smiling. The new one is a full face head an shoulders- still smiling. I had a massively positive response when I changed the pic! So many people saying it was 'fresh' and summery etc. I was surprised at how many people even cared what picture was up there. It's definitely worth having a quality photo, apart from anything else, it's hard to connect with a logo, and even harder when you meet them offline, as they have no idea what you look like! And meeting offline is another reason to have a recent photo that resembles you, not something from twenty years ago when you were considerably different. Overly glamerous photo's can have a negative impact if you look radically different in real life, it creates mistrust. I recently changed my avatar picture on Twitter after a couple of years with the same one. The old one was a slightly sideways head and shoulders shot of me smiling. The new one is a full face head an shoulders- still smiling. I had a massively positive response when I changed the pic! So many people saying it was ‘fresh’ and summery etc. I was surprised at how many people even cared what picture was up there.
It’s definitely worth having a quality photo, apart from anything else, it’s hard to connect with a logo, and even harder when you meet them offline, as they have no idea what you look like! And meeting offline is another reason to have a recent photo that resembles you, not something from twenty years ago when you were considerably different. Overly glamerous photo’s can have a negative impact if you look radically different in real life, it creates mistrust.

]]> Comment on Profile pictures online should be baby-faced by John Cassidy http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/profile-pictures-online-should-be-baby-faced.html#comment-1773 John Cassidy Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:27:35 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5691#comment-1773 Brilliant article Graham and fortunately more and more people are seeing the value in investing in a set of professional profile photos to use across all their profiles and online platforms. The most important thing i'd say is for your photo to be engaging, it has to attract someone and encourage them to want to find out more about you. This is where the difference between a good and bad photo can make the difference - and potentially the start of a new relationship or business deal... John Cassidy Brilliant article Graham and fortunately more and more people are seeing the value in investing in a set of professional profile photos to use across all their profiles and online platforms.

The most important thing i’d say is for your photo to be engaging, it has to attract someone and encourage them to want to find out more about you. This is where the difference between a good and bad photo can make the difference – and potentially the start of a new relationship or business deal…

John Cassidy

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1736 Graham Jones Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:29:10 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1736 Sorry, never met Nixon - but I did literally upstage Margaret Thatcher once...! Another story....! As for elections, social psychology research shows that all groups are self-regulating. At one of my workshops I play a game called "The Submarine Game" which is about decisions which need to be made by the group of people who are all trapped in a crashed submarine. They have the means of escape but how should they go about it? What happens is a "leader" emerges, who seemingly gets co-operation from the group. But the game also reveals that the true "leadership" of the group comes not from the leader themselves. RBS is not led by the CEO but by the combined approval of staff and customers, once that disappears no "leader" can lead them. In other words, groups are self-governing, Sorry, never met Nixon – but I did literally upstage Margaret Thatcher once…! Another story….!
As for elections, social psychology research shows that all groups are self-regulating. At one of my workshops I play a game called “The Submarine Game” which is about decisions which need to be made by the group of people who are all trapped in a crashed submarine. They have the means of escape but how should they go about it? What happens is a “leader” emerges, who seemingly gets co-operation from the group. But the game also reveals that the true “leadership” of the group comes not from the leader themselves. RBS is not led by the CEO but by the combined approval of staff and customers, once that disappears no “leader” can lead them. In other words, groups are self-governing,

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? | Internet Psychology | Scoop.it http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1731 Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? | Internet Psychology | Scoop.it Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:45:51 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1731 [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; } www.grahamjones.co.uk - Today, 7:45 [...] [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; } http://www.grahamjones.co.uk – Today, 7:45 [...]

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Oranjepan http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1692 Oranjepan Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:30:57 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1692 Thanks, Graham., I'm sure you've got some good stories. I almost hoped you were going to say you met Nixon! I once heard it said 'politics is a conspiracy of conspiracies', just like the common refrain that 'all politicians are liars' it all sounded like a recipe for social breakdown and sporadic waves of civic disorder. Do you think this is inevitably true, or are elections an effective self-regulating system, and something which companies could make better use of in their corporate structure to provide accountability? Seems relevant given recent debate regarding collective share-ownership and government handwringing over RBS bonuses. Thanks, Graham., I’m sure you’ve got some good stories. I almost hoped you were going to say you met Nixon!

I once heard it said ‘politics is a conspiracy of conspiracies’, just like the common refrain that ‘all politicians are liars’ it all sounded like a recipe for social breakdown and sporadic waves of civic disorder.

Do you think this is inevitably true, or are elections an effective self-regulating system, and something which companies could make better use of in their corporate structure to provide accountability? Seems relevant given recent debate regarding collective share-ownership and government handwringing over RBS bonuses.

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Graham Jones http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1682 Graham Jones Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:35:41 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1682 Thanks for your comments. Yes, Jeremy, you are right - politicians and other leaders do lie to us. I've witnessed such lies first hand with some politicians. But I don't think it is entirely the media's fault. Some years ago much reverence was paid to political leaders - we didn't believe they would lie to us. Then - mainly in the 1970s - when media organisations started to expose the fabrications of our leaders we lost all respect for them. Being a politician in the early part of the 20th Century was a respected job; not now. But since the 1980s, media organisations faced with poor profits, increased competition and so on, have reduced resources to investigate. The result is, our leaders can increasingly "get away with it" as in the case of the example from Oranjepan above. The simple thing is to assume that every politician lies until they can prove otherwise. The problem is, however, the more they lie to use the more the conspiracy theories will abound. Ultimately, the political elite could fall victim to increased acceptance of conspiracy theories, only because these can be produced due to the decreased trust arising from a lack of truthfulness at the top. Hoist by own petard, methinks. Thanks for your comments. Yes, Jeremy, you are right – politicians and other leaders do lie to us. I’ve witnessed such lies first hand with some politicians. But I don’t think it is entirely the media’s fault. Some years ago much reverence was paid to political leaders – we didn’t believe they would lie to us. Then – mainly in the 1970s – when media organisations started to expose the fabrications of our leaders we lost all respect for them. Being a politician in the early part of the 20th Century was a respected job; not now. But since the 1980s, media organisations faced with poor profits, increased competition and so on, have reduced resources to investigate. The result is, our leaders can increasingly “get away with it” as in the case of the example from Oranjepan above. The simple thing is to assume that every politician lies until they can prove otherwise. The problem is, however, the more they lie to use the more the conspiracy theories will abound. Ultimately, the political elite could fall victim to increased acceptance of conspiracy theories, only because these can be produced due to the decreased trust arising from a lack of truthfulness at the top. Hoist by own petard, methinks.

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Oranjepan http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1679 Oranjepan Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:11:48 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1679 Jeremy raises an important point about the origins of the phenomenon - a loss of authority by civic figures whose inaccuracies have contributed to a reduction in their legitimacy. On a local note traditional media processes may be to blame as strategies are devised to subvert them. This is a recent partisan example, but nevertheless illuminating http://waswasere.blogspot.com/2012/01/anatomy-of-inexactitude.html I'd be interested to hear what you think members of the public can do to identify and neutralise the negative aspects of these and similar harmful practices in the wider realm. Jeremy raises an important point about the origins of the phenomenon – a loss of authority by civic figures whose inaccuracies have contributed to a reduction in their legitimacy.

On a local note traditional media processes may be to blame as strategies are devised to subvert them. This is a recent partisan example, but nevertheless illuminating
http://waswasere.blogspot.com/2012/01/anatomy-of-inexactitude.html

I’d be interested to hear what you think members of the public can do to identify and neutralise the negative aspects of these and similar harmful practices in the wider realm.

]]> Comment on Princess Diana and Bin Laden are both alive and well…! Really? by Jeremy Jacobs http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/internet-psychology/princess-diana-alive.html#comment-1675 Jeremy Jacobs Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:49:11 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5668#comment-1675 Great post Graham. However, many in the world are duped by politicians and religious leaders who spout myths about others. Great post Graham. However, many in the world are duped by politicians and religious leaders who spout myths about others.

]]> Comment on Twitter can manipulate your behaviour by Twitter can manipulate your behaviour | Internet Psychology | Scoop.it http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/2012/blog/social/twitter-can-manipulate-your-behaviour.html#comment-1669 Twitter can manipulate your behaviour | Internet Psychology | Scoop.it Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:12:18 +0000 http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/?p=5577#comment-1669 [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; } www.grahamjones.co.uk - Today, 7:12 [...] [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; } http://www.grahamjones.co.uk – Today, 7:12 [...]

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