Photo thanks to marii ii

Q, Mike and I facilitated a focus group yesterday- the objective of which was to find out what small business owners want to know about technology, websites, the whole works. The group ranged from self appointed “power users” to two guys just starting out on the long road to becoming tech-savvy.

I was not surprised that it was the less tech-minded members of the forum that provided us with the best fodder for our upcoming “Business Technology 101” seminar. The questions posed for Q and Mike reminded us how confusing all the tech terms can sound. One young woman in the focus group commented that when her developers did take the time to explain all the intimidating terms and acronyms, 9 times out of 10 she knew exactly what they were talking about—she just lacked the techno verbage.

The terms themselves become the missing links in conversations. PPC? SEO? Huh? When Q and Vinh were training me for this job, I had to interrupt them every 7 or 8 words or so to get explanations. One day Vinh instructed me to make a “lightbox.” I glanced up to the ceiling dubiously, highly doubting that Vinh really needed me to mount a ladder and tamper with the fluorescent office lights.

Sometimes those in the tech fields forget how to communicate with “laypeople,” if you will. After the focus group, Q, Mike and I decided that a glossary of key terms was first on the agenda for the seminar presentation we’ll be giving in April.

The focus group was an excellent reminder to Q and Mike that the terms and acronyms, while efficient between two people that speak the language, can immediately raise hackles and put up walls between two people who both actually have the capacity to fully understand what a lightbox is. (It’s an online storage area for photos, p.s.)