Houshang Livian

Testing Workflow

houshang — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 07:51:40 +0000

This testing workflow is the pre-work to an advanced machine learning project. This pre-work allowed us to design the UI to be as simple as possible while containing all of the necessary functionality.

Load File Import

houshang — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 07:44:34 +0000

This load file importing wireframe was revolutionary because it allowed the testing of the integrity of the file to be imported. This was created in Adobe Illustrator.

Navigation Workflow

houshang — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 07:30:00 +0000

This is a workflow navigation map for an application. It includes highlighted structure changes.

Document Viewer

houshang — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 07:26:27 +0000

This is a wireframe of a next generation document viewer. This document viewer allows multiple ways to view the relationship this document has with other documents. It also allows the viewer to know where in the document folder the are.

Folder Wizard

houshang — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 06:45:02 +0000

This wireframe is for a wizard action that will move documents from one folder to another. This is a mid-fidelity wireframe. This was created in adobe illustrator and was high enough fidelity to allow the developers to work directly from the wireframe.

Starting a Career in User Experience Design

houshang — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:24:08 +0000

In the early part of February I was hired by Clearwell Systems as a User Experience Designer (UED). It’s so exciting, now I’m using a whole new spectrum of skills that I’ve used for other reasons but now how a real life use for them. Where Web Design was about the psychology of branding, UED is about empathic-ally stepping into the shoes of a user.

I’m so excited about the change and grateful to everyone for supporting my business for so many years.

5 To Do Today

houshang — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:30:29 +0000

Working with WildAid on this International Campaign to inspire millions to do something everyday for climate change.

Monterra

houshang — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:13:20 +0000

This exclusive enclave in the mountains surrounding Monterey provides one of the most beautiful views in the area. Unfortunately, it’s a gated community that most will not get to see. The houses here are luxury estates, so the website needed to match that luxury.

Glenn’s Auto Repair

houshang — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:41:04 +0000

Glenn’s Auto Repair is a locally owned shop in Santa Cruz. One of the best places locally to have your car repaired.

Seven Ways to Raise Your Local Business Listing Rank in Google

houshang — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:13:37 +0000

Seven Ways to Raise Your Local Business Listing Rank in Google

Google Local Business Listings are different than organic or pay-per-click listings. They typically only show up when the user types a service oriented business followed by the city for their search. A large map from Google Maps appears alongside up to ten URLs with a phone number by each. If you need more than ten listings you can click in “More Results from ‘Insert City’ “ and you’ll be taken to a map with alphabetically lettered red pegs for each register business on Google Maps.

It seems over the last year being listed on Google Maps and/or Google’s Local Business Listings is becoming even more important since they are being displayed more often in search with up to ten listings before organic listings even start.

Changes in Google Local Business Listings’ Algorithm

One client of ours was listed and is still listed under a Local Business Listing for their service, but it seems the listing fell in a short period of time; they went from #2 to #44 out of 3,656. Since many local business owners are seeing the value in these listings and Google makes the submission process much easier to understand than the general ins and outs of SEO, competition is on the rise.

With this recent surprise in dropping, I have decided Google Local Business Listings has its own algorithm. After noticing what the patterns were and what the top listings did, I made some adjustments using the modeling method. Soon after I noticed a huge rise in ranking.

Based on researching and observation, the pattern that presents itself for those that are high on the listings is they have:

1. Photos – They only recently they allowed this. Add as many photos as you can and a company logo.

2. Multiple Reviews – It’s important that these be from real customers. You can not have too many. Don’t fake them either, it’s easy to see. Just as with Amazon, people trust products with lots reviews that have kept above three stars.

3. Use Keywords in Company Description – They offer an area where the business representative can describe what the company offers.

4. Use Keywords in Company Name – Don’t be deceptive by changing your company name, but if your keywords are in the extended business name or LLC, make sure this is the name in which you register.

5. Add a Coupon – Google allows printable coupons to be added by your listing.

Add these elements to your Google Local Business Listing and you are sure to be in the top ten.

6. Create links to the listing – Add a link from your homepage to the listing and encourage current customers or website visitors to review your company.

7. Add Videos- If your company already has videos on YouTube you can place them right there on the page.