![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_ola5jfg_dwdnfpkchqwvlrgjj.png)
Considered a "must have" product for SEOs and online marketers, Open Site Explorer is a data set and API of over 220 billion domains, a set of metrics about those domains, and a web interface to view the data.
My contributions:
• Managed two different design rebuilds and sets of usability testing to address key usability issues.
• After finding that usage was declining, I conducted a competitive analysis which revealed weak points. Using this information I proposed a two year plan which has been steadily increasing usage since it was proposed this summer.
• Worked with engineering and data science on a new technical strategy to grow the index to match and exceed a competitor; facilitated discussions between technical and business that were otherwise causing a lot of miscommunication.
![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_076plpxxwgpzadc0fbz6kj9oe.png)
Visualization of the areas where we had begun to lag compared to new competitors. We had allowed focus on a new product to allow us to fall behind, so our plan for the next two years involved catching up and out-performing in areas where it would be difficult for competitors to match us (due to the fact that we collected different types of data that would be hard for them to collect).
![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_of2tggluee7qk_kwkwab0rsk0.png)
For each potential feature, I created a simple page with the description, validation, technical limitations, and user stories. Reviewing this with the wider team made it easy for everyone to stay on the same page.
![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_6u3dbhj8l0on5joqnp5o9tgsj.png)
A matrix that I created comparing attributes of our product and competitive products.
![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_niouxwjmeizl4hwhpritnw5t5.png)
Because of the technical nature of the product, language was often getting confused. People would agree to something because their interpretation of what they agreed to was different than the person asking for it. I created a clear set of definitions to avoid miscommunication.
![](https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/607135_uto9v8kky64lntw_khubief4m.png)
I include visual examples as much as possible because I believe it helps with common understanding.
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