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Vivien and I had a discussion on Skype the other day about the iReply movement post here on RA Project. We were both trying to see all the sides to the argument and Vivien made what I consider a really good analogy.
I’m not trying to put words in Vivien’s mouth here, but the analogy she spoke of concerned itself with the many badges on websites today. For example, here at RA Project, we have the SOB badge displayed. Other blogs have the 9rules badges, “U Comment, I Follow” badges, and many, many others.
One thing Vivien compared the badges to was the welcome mat for a house. She asked me if I had a welcome mat. I said, “Of course.” She then asked if my welcome mat indeed said, “Welcome.” I said yes.
She then asked me, “What is a welcome mat really for?” I replied, “To wipe one’s feet.” She went on to explain that the “Welcome” wasn’t really necessary since all the “Welcome” did was give the illusion of being available. It’s like having an “Open” sign on a business, but not really being open.
So what should you gather from the “Welcome” analogy? Perhaps it is this:
If a guest enters your home, will the perception of hospitality lie solely on the introduction by the welcome mat? Probably not. Does the welcome mat dictate what type of atmosphere the home has? Again, probably not. Website badges are the same way. Just because one has them displayed does not give a guarantee of an atmosphere or experience.
To me, badges are a promise. If one has a badge displayed that promises a reader something but doesn’t deliver, then the welcome mat is displayed, but nobody is home.
What do you think of the analogy of website badges to welcome mats? Thank you for reading.
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That’s a good analogy. I would add one more thing: if from all door mats in the world, only yours has “Welcome” on it, I may have the illusion that you are available and I’m welcome in your home, although I don’t know you. But if 90% of all door mats have “Welcome” on them, this means nothing to me; the word loses its original meaning, so I’m not going to imagine I’m really welcome. It would be like this: “door mat” + “welcome” = “door mat”. Following that basic maths we learned in school, it results from this equation that “welcome”=0.
I agree that the badges shouldn’t be seen as welcome mats, but as signs of what you do at your blog.
How about taking the analogy further? I’d say that the welcome mat is the header area. It’s the first thing that you see, and can make a great impression. It’s the area that contains a bit of information and is part of the first impression, but isn’t an area that receives a lot of attention from readers.
Then, you move below the header, go through the front door and each page of the site is like a little room on its own. As you go through the pages, you see the sidebar, and I think that you can liken the sidebar to the pictures we hang on our walls. They tell the readers about you, about what you stand for, and the badges are just one element of that.
Personally, I run quite a few badges on my site, and it tells my readers the things that I stand for on my blog. I also don’t think that if you are a part of a movement, you don’t necessarily have to put the badge for that movement on the sidebar. It’s all up to us to decide what is the best mix of content to put in our “houses”.
Sephyroth
http://www.sephyroth.net
Simonne,
Good point. Just because I have “Welcome” on my door mat doesn’t mean you can just walk into my house. Especially with us gun-toting Americans
Sephyroth,
That’s a good analogy of comparing a blog’s design and atmosphere to a house and the hospitality within. I might write a follow-up post on this one. Thank you.
Interesting, this comparing a weblog to a home. Badges might be elements of outside landscaping, or interior decorating. And what distinguishes a welcomed-inside visitor from someone walking or riding past?
That’s a good point Radioactive Jam. I’ll have to think about some more. Perhaps the analogy can be broken down further. I personally think of a weblog as more of a store.
some people likes to take things literally. Putting a welcome mat doesn’t really mean all people are welcome. give it up, it’s just a mat…
I don’t think there is necessity of welcome notes. If you are good enough then relatives or neighbors would definitely visit your home.Similarly if your service is good then you would get visitors for your site. There’s no need of welcome note.