Jakob Nielsen's press office research

“The king of usability” writes about some interesting research he conducted into how journalists work and the effectiveness of website media sections .

The results of 3 studies across 4 countries with 40 journalists show that journalists use the web as a major research tool.

It makes interesting reading and highlights the importance of focusing on the needs of a specific set of users ensuring that your site provides the detail that they need and expect.

It also shows that ignoring the expectations of this group of site visitors means missing sometimes significant opportunities.

Food for thought

“Ultimately, PR-related usability comes down to a simple question: Why spend a fortune on outbound PR (trying to pitch journalists) when you neglect simple steps to increase the effectiveness of inbound PR (satisfying journalists who visit your website)?”

Read the article at useit.com.