In a time of increasing competition, savvy marketers understand that enhancing the user experience doesn't just benefit the user - it benefits the business itself. And one of the best ways to create better user interaction is by improving your Web site's usability. In this two-part series, we'll give you ten tips and techniques for implementing user experience initiatives.

Recently, our sales team has been fielding questions about open source content management software, and in the process, educating potential buyers about the pitfalls inherent in open source projects. Certainly, the software's price tag (free) makes it hard to pass up, but what you can't afford to ignore are the risks inherent in using open source software.

In recent years, the Web has been the primary resource for a cross-section of individuals who may have difficulties linking with the outside world. According to a United Nations report, approximately 10% or 600 million people worldwide have some form of disability. That aside, the Web has become an important factor in the way we do business, learn and communicate.

What if I told you that you could increase the effectiveness of your current marketing campaigns while, at the same time, decrease your company's impact on the environment - and that after an initial investment, you'd actually save marketing dollars. Would you jump at the chance? Your competition might have already.