We launched the siteIQ eBusiness Index in 2000 to do four important things.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of organizations engage in private online communities hosted by the companies that sell them computer hardware, software and the services*. That means you need to pay attention to your communities. And this report is a great place to start.
If there is a single word that defines the activities on the eBusiness Index sites over the past 12 months it is “redesign”. 2011 produced a cotillion of fresh faces and innovative thinking that’s already changing the way Website teams think about navigation, marketing, and content.
But if you think focusing on the Top 5 will teach you all you need to know, think again. Other sites are proving they can be small but mighty on the usability front—and give the big guys a literal run for their money.
Content that is all about “you”. Websites that cultivate the “cult of personality”. Imagery that is more than a pretty face. Integrated social media.
This is the new world of Websites that the professional services companies are facing. Some sites get this new marketing paradigm better than others–but all of them need to get on board to stay competitive in 2012.
Business software is often considered the smaller sibling of the enterprise software set. But business software sites are actually a unique blend of enterprise-class product and services marketing with consumer-style ecommerce.
Delivering these complex products in neat, travel-size pouches presents a whole new set of requirements and challenges. The results of the 2011 siteIQ evaluations show how 3 different Websites perform these complex maneuvers while sustaining the high level of usability required for ecommerce-driven sites.
