Competitor Research

For our Editing for Web class we will be creating a website for a fictitious client, Reel Deel Tacos. Prior to starting this process, we are doing research on competitors to see what works and what doesn't work on their site. This gives us insight and teaches us to observe the usability and design of a website prior to creating our own.

The websites I analyzed were:

SoCal Fish Taco Company

Jimmy Hula's

Baja Fish Taco's

Smart Goals

For the past few years I have wanted to create a YouTube channel titled Extremely Organized and Slightly OCD. The reason for this is because I juggle work, school, acting classes, and freelance work and tend to rarely ever let anything through the cracks. In the past portfolio classes, I've taken advantage of using this time to prepare to finally get this project started. I haven't quite achieved that yet and my goals for this month is to finally get my channel launched. Here are my smart goals for this month: 

Goal #1 - Outline Episodes of my YouTube channel

1. Narrow down the list of topics for my YouTube channel. 

2. Plan out my publishing schedule based on the list.

3. Pick 3 episodes to start working on pre-production. 

Goal #2 - Shoot 3 episodes of my YouTube Channel

1. Script 3 episodes for my channel.

2. Shoot myself direct to camera for those 3 episodes.

3. Shoot b-roll for those episodes.

Goal #3 - Start post-production for my YouTube Channel

1. Import all footage from said shoots.

2. Edit all 3 episodes.

3. Work on other post production (graphics, audio, etc) for those 3 episodes. 

Content Strategy

Content Strategy is most likely the most important thing to consider prior to creating a website. After reviewing Foundations of UX: Content Strategy, I am quite surprised at how much I didn't know about strategy considering I've been working at a creative agency for over 11 years.

One of the most fascinating things I learned from this was the perplexity of the user. Most users will not be digging into our website with their full attention. They will be browsing on their mobile device while ordering a coffee and holding a baby with their other hand. I never once considered this although once I learned it, it seemed quite obvious. This definitely changes the way I would design a website as I would need to get the information to the user quickly, easily, and with no frills.

Another thing I learned and found very interesting was the importance of establishing the voice and tone of a website. The voice of a brand has to be reflected in the wording as well as the design on a website. This seems obvious once I heard about it but it was something I never would have thought about prior to this tutorial. Communication must be consistent with the brand and that voice carries through the website as well.

When it comes to governance and ownership, I was amazed at the idea of having the user feel ownership for a product or brand. I always thought that content was owned by the content creator, not the user. In the Lynda.com video, they used the example of Apple and Tesla users and it just clicked. Although the user is not the "content creator" they definitely feel a sense of ownership when it comes to the brand. I learned about this concept and would love to learn more about this. I'm assuming that it has taken Apple years to create this type of brand loyalty from their consumers and would love to dig deeper into how they achieved this.

Moving forward, I will definitely think five steps further than I expected to when creating a website for my fictitious brand. I will try to be extremely aware of my audience and the way they will use the site. I will do my best at communicating to my audience genuinely and not focus purely on sales but on being true to my brand and the brand's culture.

I am excited for this challenge and looking forward to working on this project and hopefully, with this new found knowledge, create a better portfolio for my own brand as well.

Week 4 Reflection: Professionalism & RISE Self-Evaluation