Are you designing for conversation? One of the most popular terms you will hear today is “social networking” and while the first things that may come to mind are web sites like MySpace, Facebook or Linkedin, a big aspect of design is giving room for conversation starting on your own web site and yes print materials. I like to talk about items in technology in terms of everyday objects or events more people can identify with. In recent years one of the places on houses that we’re done away with or received very little attention was the “front porch.” Thankfully I am seeing front porches make somewhat of a comeback. I definitely want my next house to have as large of a front porch so I can potentially develop conversations with my neighbors.

I was also talking with someone today how social networks are like the in-person networks you may attend in your local community like a Chamber of Commerce*, other professional groups like Professional Network Connections, BNI or industry specific groups like the GSATC Group and family of groups I am involved with in Greenville,SC except these groups are online.

Does your web site have a blog, forum or other system to allow visitors and clients to add to the conversation and become an active participant as opposed to a viewer only?

Does you leave space on your business card for additional notes? We have designed a product more the size of an index card that I pass out when I speak on an educational topic to networking groups so not only do people have something that advertises my business but they also can take extra notes that are important to them and they are less prone to forget about it. The same is true of web sites that have blogs as part of their strategy. I love the fact I can connect with people and also leave ideas. Can designing for conversation spur on innovation? Finally is it all about you or are you leaving room for participation and questions in the design of your media?

*My local Chamber of Commerce

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Compelling Content, Greenville,SC, Innovation, Internet, Tips, blogging, marketing, networking, social networks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.