We live in a time where people’s attention’s spans are almost non-existent. Getting people’s attention and keeping it is a challenge the media industry has had to tackle because people have so much at their fingertips. Don’t Make Me Think tackles the new-age question: how do we get people to get the information they need from our online platforms? In order to keep the audience engaged, we must design websites for their busy lifestyles and not for the vanity of our “hard work”.

Most readers are just going to scan through your website until they see something they think can offer value. When you’re creating your site, it’s not helpful to the reader to write a ton down, assuming they’re going to read and take every word in. To lead readers effectively, there should be minimal words and trigger phrases that will help them reach the page or content that they’re looking for.

Following along with Internet normalities also helps readers to understand where to go for what they’re looking for. For example, most readers will anticipate the ‘home’ button to be in the top left corner. If your website includes a shopping element, placing a shopping cart at the top of the page makes the most sense to the audience when they’re ready to check out. This can also be utilized when referencing video content (camera icon), a search bar (magnifying glass), or the shipping address (home icon).

The location of links on pages also determines the importance of the links. Usually, navigation tools appear right below the header or off to the left side. The more important something is, the larger and more prominent it should appear on the page. Bold the text, make it larger, place it near the header to make it more noticeable to the audience.

The audience uses the web as they function in real life. Step one: they’re trying to find something. The next obvious step? Figure out how to find it. People either go one of two ways. First, they’ll ask the search bar. If they don’t go that direction they try to find the information themselves. This makes the search bar and your navigation your most important tools to amp up. Make your search bar accessible, but also create clearly defined buttons for your navigation so people can browse.

I think the most straightforward and helpful statement in this entire book is: if people cannot work your website, they won’t use it. I found this book to be a wealth of information as to how people use websites. It breaks down the narcissism we can have when creating our websites as if people are just going to live and breathe it. We must nix the “happy text” and make any words included on the site clear and straightforward. People lead busy lives and have short attention spans. We have to make all the information we have on our sites easily accessible.

A good website is pleasant to look at but simple to navigate. If a website is able to showcase its content in a well-organized, easy-to-read format and make it look good….you have a recipe for success.

As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry sober again! Bless my heart this drink was strong and beautiful and deceiving…just like Scarlett O’Hara.

There’s something about a drink that is beautiful that makes it taste better. I don’t make the rules, that’s just how it is.

OAK is one of those really beautiful restaurants that people go to 90% of the time for the atmosphere. However, the nicely presented food and drinks make your stay there all the more appealing.

I had the southern belle along with some cheesy tots, a classic order for any respectable southern lady.

I’d like to think Scarlett would approve, but if she doesn’t, quite frankly I don’t give a darn!

Yes, I got this drink for the name. And the aesthetic.

Madrina’s is tightly tucked away oasis in the middle of the grimy streets of downtown Gainesville. For those who have a hankering for an upscale happy hour with fun cocktails and a cool, city vibe there’s no better place than Madrina’s.

My cocktail was fun and fruity, but did not feel overly sweet. I tend to like sweeter things, but this made me feel like I was thirty and thriving in some cool bar in the city.

Mandrina’s has great drink specials during happy hour, particularly for their daiquiris. They’re $5 and they come in a fancy antique looking glass that makes everyone else at the bar envious. I’d know because…well I didn’t get one.

And I was envious.

I try to eat healthy, I really do.

But when two masterpieces such as these lay before you…well. Let’s just say the keto diet goes out the window.

I’ll cut to the chase.

Can you ever really go wrong with a warm cookie? Don’t answer that.

This was the most beautiful work of gluttony I’ve ever put in my mouth. On the bottom, we’ve got a warm cookie stuffed with melty marshmallows and chocolate just oozing from every angle.

Sitting on top are two scoops of Nutella ice cream that don’t just taste like a stale Ferrero Rocher. We’re talking a full-bodied flavorful experience. Oh, and I guess having brownies thrown into the mix really amped it up too. No complaints here.

If you can find someone who can lift this 1lb monster into their mouths and enjoy the experience, please find me. I need to know your secrets.

This is a definite 2-12 spooner. You need a football team to come and tackle this baby. Each cookie is about 8 ounces and they’re straight-from-the-oven hot…and you better believe there’s some serious dough action right at the center of each of them.

The cake batter ice cream of course is lovely and sweet and compliments the flavor of the cookie. At this point, if I really have to convince you that this dessert is completely wonderful and outrageous, I’m not sure there’s much I can do.

If there’s a fact you need to know about me, it’s that I love ice cream. I eat it every day- no excuses. Needless to say, I know good ice cream when I have it, and let me tell ya- this ice cream is GREAT.

Liquid nitrogen ice cream isn’t some brand new invention, but the execution and creativity at Phenomenom makes it special.

I started off super basic- for all my purists out there. I ordered a Biscoff flavored ice cream. My “freeze master” Alleesia taught me how to use the machine. It’s actually fairly simple. There’s a dispenser that knows exactly how much cream you’ll need and it pours it out automatically into the bowl. Then, you scoop in some Biscoff and carry your mix to the Kitchen Aid.

After pressing a few buttons, it’s off and running and creating a cloud of liquid nitrogen around the bowl. You know when it’s done because you’ll hear a “crack”. Apparently it takes a very trained ear to learn how to identify when it’s properly cracked, and I got it on the first try. #humblebrag

I’ve had a few other liquid nitrogen ice creams. While those are smooth and delicious, as any ice cream should be, this one had a density to it that gave the ice cream a really premium feel. It also tastes EXACTLY like cookie butter, so I’m not really sure what more you could ask for.

In my next blog post, I’ll show you the two specialty desserts you can get at Phenomenom- a gooey s’mores cookie Sunday and a colorful ice cream sandwich! Yes, they were as terrible as they sound.

(Not).