In today's BlatzChatz
THE GOOD
I shared very tactical tips on how to network right in this UXCon talk. Let’s stop messing this up and start building meaningful connections, OK?
Stop Getting Ghosted in DMs on LinkedIn: What UX Pros Say Actually Works
Have you ever sent a LinkedIn DM and heard nothing back?
Yeah, me too.
So I did what any researcher would do – I did research to find out what people are doing wrong.
Over 40 UX pros got back to me and told me what it actually takes to get them to respond.
In my UXCon keynote, I share the behind-the-scenes data on what makes pros hit reply versus ignore.
It turns out that asking to "pick their brain" or requesting "just 15 minutes to chat” is actually pissing people off.
And this is why you are getting ignored.
But there are specific tactics that work to get a response, and I break them all down in this talk.
I also cover:
Networking strategies for introverts
Better conversation starters than "what do you do?"
And why building relationships matters way more than one-off messages.
This is not about AI doing the work for you. You wish!
My talk is about making genuine human connections that actually stick.
THE FAD
This cat does not look impressed when it comes to using AI for UX research. But what do cats know anyways? Image by aaxpasja1000 on Pixabay.
How Do People Feel about using AI in UX Research?
I have thoughts when it comes to using AI for research.
But I am not the only person on the planet. So I decided to reach out to my LinkedIn network and see how they feel about using AI for UX research.
Some said it was helpful
Some said it was overhyped
Some even said it was dangerous.
But the comments people left on the poll is where the real gold comes in.
Brian said:
“… useful and valuable when deployed appropriately to automate data gathering, analysis and fraud detection. Dangerous when used as a substitute for actual human insights (especially those involving culture, values and life journeys).”
Lauren said:
“It is definitely not a replacement for users or talking to people. But it helps speed up the data collection process. It can help deliver insights faster to teams.”
Of course, some folks had to leave a bit of snark. And I am here for it.
Thomas said:
“I use it to make em dashes. What else does it do?”
Check out what other folks had to say about using AI in UX research by going over to the LinkedIn poll.
THE UGLY
I have a tough time keeping a straight face when someone on my team tries to tell me they are a user of our product. Clearly….
How to Respond When Someone Says “But I AM the User”
You know the scenario: Someone declares "I am the user," and suddenly the conversation shifts to one person's preferences.
And you die a little bit inside.
Your instinct says to push back. Show them they are wrong.
But how?
The classic "you are not the user" response has a fatal flaw.
What happens when they actually are a user of the product?
In my latest video, I'm breaking down why we need smarter, more nuanced responses to this common UX challenge.
In this BlatzChatz video, I'm sharing the deeper reasons why even actual users in your company can't represent your entire user base.
We're talking:
Consensus effect
The curse of knowledge
And why your emotional investment makes you WAY different from external users.
I'll give you multiple comebacks that are respectful, collaborative, and actually address the root problem. These responses help you redirect the conversation without creating conflict.
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THE POLL
For focus time, how do you prefer to work?
Open the next issue of BlatzChatz to see this week’s results.
Last Poll: Looks like most folks prefer a remote work set up.
The decision is yours
Confusing, jargon-packed, and time-consuming. Or quick, direct, and actually enjoyable.
Easy choice.
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WAIT, THERE’S MORE
I asked AI to create an image of a person sneezing to illustrate how fast a sneeze can be. To me, this looks more like a person vomiting than sneezing.
How fast is a sneeze?
Up to 100 miles per hour.
It’s like a high-speed cannon, expelling all sorts of foreign gunk in the atmosphere.
That’s why covering your mouth is so important.
A sneeze resets the environment within nasal passages.
Also I suffer from a “photic sneeze reflex” which causes some people (like me!) to sneeze due to sunlight.
P.S. There’s still a small amount of tickets available to my SAC workshop: “Stop Making Journey Maps and Personas, Complete a SAC (Scenario Alignment Canvas) Instead.” It’s virtual, so come dressed in your jammies and learn new things. Grab one of the last tickets from the IAC (Information Architecture Conference) website.
How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads
The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.
