Webtalk
A social networking platform combining elements of social media, professional networking, and e-commerce
Duration
2010-2013
Type
#Startup, #SocialMedia
Responsibilities
personas, sitemaps, wire-framing
What is Webtalk?
Webtalk is a social networking platform that combines elements of social media, professional networking, and e-commerce. The platform is designed to help users build and manage their personal and professional networks, and to facilitate communication, collaboration, and business opportunities.
Webtalk allows users to create profiles that showcase their personal and professional interests, skills, and achievements, and to connect with other users who share their interests or can offer valuable insights or opportunities. The platform also offers a range of features to help users promote their businesses, including advertising, e-commerce tools, and lead generation.
Webtalk's unique selling proposition is its revenue-sharing model, which allows users to earn a share of the advertising revenue generated by their content and network activity. Users can also earn rewards for referring new users to the platform, and for participating in other promotional activities.
The Problem
The current landscape of social networking platforms lacks an efficient and effective solution for individuals who desire to maintain a clear separation between their personal and professional lives. Additionally, there is a lack of opportunities for users to leverage their network and generate income through a multilevel marketing (MLM) structure integrated into the platform. To address these limitations, there was a desire to create an application that could handle this, called Webtalk, and that it provides users with a distinct space for personal and professional interactions while offering a monetization model through an MLM layer.
The Solution
A Social Networking platform that allows clear lines of separation between Personal, Professional, and Business Accounts (where needed) with an MLM component in the near future.
Understanding the User
I started the research process by analyzing data taken from user surveys. This helped me learn what struggles users face when using social media and what some of their most common pain points are.
Research Insight
Here were some of the insights gathered from the research:
Users would like to know more about the data being collected on them and how it will be used
Users frequently cited privacy as the main concern between their personal and professional lives
There is a desire among some Users to have an easier way to monetize their social media activity
Personas
Following the analysis of user research findings, the next step was to develop personas, which aided in envisioning the intended audience. To facilitate the design process, I ensured that one particular persona effectively represented a user that was interested in exploring a network that has both personal and professional capabilities, and who was enthusiastic about improving the workflow process, taking into account their pain points and frustrations. This persona served as a constant reference point throughout the entirety of the product design journey, helping to maintain a clear focus when making design choices.
Sitemap
Afterward, the focus shifted towards conceptualizing the structure of the product mainly thinking about what the functions and main actions required at this particular part of the process.
Given this perspective, I prioritized the use of desktop computers or tablets and proceeded to design a sitemap that visually depicted the primary user journey within the product.
Sketches
At the onset of the design phase, I initiated the process by creating preliminary sketches outlining the desired page layout. My objective was to enable users to easily navigate between their personal and professional networks while having he assurance that their information was not crossing that personal/professional barrier.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
With the foundation of the website's structure in place, the next step involved crafting low-fidelity wireframes. These wireframes served as initial representations of each screen's layout and content. Subsequently, these wireframes were transformed into lo-fi prototypes, allowing for a rapid assessment of how the screens should seamlessly flow together.