jonmacdonald

I'd argue that we're offering the option to opt-in, not forcing you to.

We're not doing the even more super obtrusive pop-over window, which would be interrupting your reading.

True. It is a wonder that they've been able to keep the home page of google.com just focused on search.

That is still the best example of usability and user experience on the internet, IMO.

That'd be a great question to ask Louis CK, for sure. But there is no way to compare without knowing the data, which I didn't have.

1 day to sell out is awesome either way, though, yes?

Here here!

But the bigger point here is... why make it a terrible experience if you don't need to? Or purpose at The Good is to remove all the bad experiences from the web until only the good remain. That's why I shared this inspirational example.

No doubt he is a brilliant talent, and even if you have the world's best online customer experience, it won't help you sell a shitty product.

And... the Stuck Score™ is free, if that helps?

You mention tactics. Instead, focus on metrics trends. Optimizing the customer experience may include the tactics you've mentioned, but if you walk into a review and show that your customers are happier (net promoter score, or clips from user testing, for example), conversion rates are up, and online revenues are up... that would be pretty darn good evidence of a job well done.

I see your point, but like Louis CK, if you see the value in the content provided, we think you'd be willing to give more information: in Louis CK's case subscribing to an email when making a purchase, in our case getting a Stuck Score™ that can provide even more value.

Agreed that I bet that helped get people to his site to purchase the video download. But I think it is equally important to note that he left the subscribe box unchecked during this purchase, and he still had enough people re-check it that he was able to sell out his live shows ONLY through this email.

That is what I am trying to convey here – that focusing on a great customer experience can be an aid in driving sales, not a deterrent.

What if customer experience was the only metric that mattered? We find that our clients who focus on this as the main metric see sales double... which is really what all the suits care about.

Cost of living in Portland is indeed way lower than the valley, and thus the salaries that your competition (as a developer looking for a job) will take is less than in the valley. This is why salaries are sometimes offered for less here in Portland than other West coast cities.

It is unfair to blame Portland (as a city) or the companies (who exist to make profit and thus get the best talent for the least amount reasonable). Instead, blame your talent competition who has your same skill set but will accept $10k less than you.

Or, better yet, make yourself worth that extra $10k by proving you are worth it.

Very true, but in all fairness it would appear that Portland Ten is not in the same vein as the others listed, as they do not invest in your company.

However, I do think it is dishonest for everyone to be using the y-comb name recognition as a selling point for their own programs.