Paul Boag

What Value Is There in an Initial Impression?

Author:
Paul Boag
Email the author
Published:
30 January 2019
Categories:
Reviews
Reading time:
1 minutes

I have launched a new video series in conjunction with Balsamiq where I share my initial impressions of websites I see for the first time.

Designing Websites That Convert

Join a 4-hour live masterclass with Paul Boag and learn how to turn landing pages into conversions using design, copywriting, psychology and marketing — plus a live review of your own site.

Register and join me →

According to research carried out by Microsoft, we lose concentration after only 8 seconds. That doesn’t give us long to make a positive impression on our websites. That is why we carry out snap tests when designing sites.

But what does a trained eye see when visiting a website for the first time? Is there value in an initial impression of a website? Could somebody like myself do a site review in only 20 minutes and provide any benefit from it? With the help of Balsamiq, I decided to find out.

In the first of an ongoing series, I take a look at “Get With The Brand” a digital agency site and share a few thoughts on how they might improve it, to see what we can all learn about good web design. You can watch the results below.

[Elite_video_player id=”10″]
Check out the series

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I’m a UX consultant and conversion optimization specialist with 32 years in digital. I help teams create user experiences that work; winning support, improving results, and making change stick.

Contact me

Email: paul@boagworld.com
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Actionable Insights
Dylan Valade
Puma

Actionable Insights

Paul has the ability to see what is hiding in plain sight. He validated ideas under consideration and provided new, actionable recommendations. The most valuable insight was illustrating how our issues were symptoms of an inefficient UX project team structure.

Genuinely brilliant
Sarah Zama
Oxford University

Genuinely brilliant

Paul is genuinely brilliant to work with. He’s funny, thoughtful, and really good at meeting you where you are. He matches my energy, communicates clearly, and always seems to know how to say the right thing. Working with him feels easy, constructive, and properly enjoyable.

Demonstrates his prowess
CREATIVE BLOQ
Magazine Interview

Demonstrates his prowess

As we talk, a pronounced pattern in Boag’s patter becomes apparent: he enthuses about a topic, demonstrates his prowess and then knocks himself down with a swipe of self-deprecation.

Smart & Generous
Gerry McGovern
Author of Transform

Smart & Generous

Paul is one of the smartest, most passionate, most generous people I know in the web / online industry. He is truly committed to helping organizations become simpler and more customer-centric.

An inspiration
RICHARD HURST
QUEEN MARY’S UNIVERSITY LONDON

An inspiration

Paul is an inspiration, I only wish I’d worked with him earlier in my career. His ability to understand and break down problems and offer advice, drawing on his many years of experience is unrivalled. He genuinely wants to get the best out of you and your organisation and you can’t ask for more than that.

Invaluable
NONDAS PASCHOS
MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES

Invaluable

Medecins San Frontieres, being a decentralised international association, faces challenges in meeting the needs of a diverse global audience. Paul and the team at Headscape have been invaluable in helping us see the potential of digital for doing this. They have helped us recognize the changes needed to engage with our connected audiences, bringing clarity and innovation to our digital strategy.

Supportive and Challenging
JENNIFER RUSSELL
THE SAMARITANS

Supportive and Challenging

It’s been a pleasure working with Paul. He manages to be both supportive and challenging at the same time and has a very accessible approach. It’s been a really inspiring process and I would love the opportunity to work with him again.

Entertainingly Informative
JOANNA SOUZA
UNICEF

Entertainingly Informative

We can count on Paul to be entertainingly informative. When we bring him to speak at our workshops, people walk out of the session energized and with a better understanding of how a multichannel journey should be assessed and optimized. Thanks Paul!

Best investment
RIVKIE LIEBERMAN
MOTIF STUDIO

Best investment

You’re the best investment I’ve made thus far in my business, and that includes a previous coach, paid mentors and many courses! Your expertise is absolutely invaluable. Thank you!

Moves the Needle
Brooke Mills
Beginning Boutique

Moves the Needle

It’s not a question of whether I’d work with Paul again, but what we’re doing next. He takes the time to deeply understand your business and goals, then moves the needle across the growth levers that matter most.