A Shout out to the Slow Cooker
Lessons in time management and good web design
Do you use one of these bad boys? A slow cooker I mean. What a fantastic invention!
In the past week I have had two of the most delicious, moist and mouth-watering meals prepared in one of these things and I’m not going back.
With whole websites devoted to this great invention (http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/), it is no wonder that sales for these are skyrocketing. I realize that it has been around for quite some time, but the notion of throwing something in a pot, leaving it stew for several hours, and then enjoying a fantastic meal must be talked about…NO! Raved about!!
The slow cooker (or crockpot – sounds a bit goofy so I’m going with the former) offers many of the advantages in its own parallel world that we do here at Heelatch for our clients; development, building, improving, sustaining and differentiating brands and companies on the web.
First, let’s talk about time management:
- A properly built website, containing a fully integrated content management system will save you time – allowing you to focus on more important things like sales, optimizing, a/b testing, and search engine marketing, social media, investigating ways to monetize your blog, etc…
- Building a site that is cross-browser friendly, which has fully validating code, that also takes usability and navigation into consideration will save your client time – basically making it as easy for your client to swallow what it is you have to offer as well as your message
- Lastly – and this point crosses over in its entirety – a well designed website can enable you to spend any of what was lost time (fiddling with html, uploading content and photos, experimenting with flash and javascript) with family, friends, or simply enjoying some of the things you never thought you had any time for (Golf anyone??)
A slow cooker, in comparison (or similarly), does a lot of these things, but on a ”foodie” level:
- Quick prep and an ”on” switch free up your time to address other chores, odd jobs, etc…even getting to the cat litter more frequently…which I am sure if you are like me is a gag-inducing event. But hey, the more often you do it – the less it stinks each time! With all this time you might even get around to bleaching the darn thing once a week! Have fun with that…
- While the Chef is away, the chickens will play (albeit dead, skinned, boneless and with their friends the potatoes and carrots).? Recipes are quick(er), you don’t need to spend money on all of those fancy spices and herbs (they don’t hurt), and they are time tested and full proof. Awesome!
- Spend this time playing with the kids, making hanky panky with your husband, brushing the cat, reading, exercising (ha!), whatever. The point is you’re not checking if the food is burnt, turning it over, shooing the kiddies away from the oven, or any of that. This time is now yours – and believe it or not you are still accomplishing something!
Moving on to similarities in a slow cooker that mimic qualities of a good web design, take into consideration the following;
- A quality appliance will stand the test of time. It will have staying power. The elements will maintain optimal heat levels longer, the lid will sit tighter reducing heat/taste loss, etc.. – all contributing to a better final outcome or meal in this case
- Attention to details like controls, settings, and security features enhance the user experience – making it enjoyable. You want to tell your friends how much better this brand works over another
- The above builds confidence in a machine. You’ve had such wonderful and consistent food experiences over and over again, that when it comes time to replace your slow cooker (if you ever had to), that you know you are going back to the same one – if not for the same one, an improved version
Good web design engenders these same feelings with a customer and/or user:
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