Am I the Only One?
I've long avoided participating with "rate this" features
at web sites because they required a page to reload after
providing my vote. Same with surveys and other web page
interactions.
Page reloads in those situations seem gratuitous, something
that benefits only the site owner. And here I sit, mouse in
hand, waiting for the page to reload.
Please let me know if I'm the only one who feels like that.
Do you hesitate to participate in site interactive activities
because waiting around for a new page to load is a bother?
A. Yes, I usually hesitate — click
B. Only sometimes — click
C. Rarely — click
D. No, I never hesitate for that reason — click
When you click on the URL of your answer, your browser will
display a web page with the cumulative results. (The survey
form is bypassed.)
Thank you very much for your answer.
Bypassing the form is making it as easy and as painless to
respond as I can, possibly even a joy. The blog post at
/blog/automation/One-Click_Survey.html
contains a "How-To" for making one-click surveys.
The example survey with the blog post contains the same
questions as above. The results are tallied separately,
however, which means you can use the example without fear
of skewing this article's survey.
At the bottom of the blog post, above the Permalink and
Email This links, is a "rate this" area.
Rate the blog post. I promise the page will *not* reload.
Yet, your vote instantly updates the cumulative rating
right there on the page.
The "rate this" feature is one result of giving some time
and attention to making site interactions as smooth and
uninterruptive as possible. You can vote with a smile, knowing
your perusal of the web page will not be interrupted by a
page reload.
Site owners, I'm especially interested in your views
about ease of use and uninterrupted user-experience. At
the bottom of / is a "Contact Us"
link that may be used to start a dialog.
Here are some of my thoughts related to that subject. Please
feel free to comment on any or all.
Being remembered in a positive way is a priority for web
sites that benefit from repeat visits. A less than optimum
user-experience is not a positive memory. While one can't do
a whole lot about a user's recent argument with a spouse or
having arrived late to work, it is possible to make the
user's visit relatively enjoyable.
Surveys, e-commerce checkouts, feedback, recommendations,
all site interaction should be reviewed from time to time
to see what can be done about making them easier to use and
eliminating interruptions.
Site interaction that is easier to use or less interruptive
than expected is noteworthy and the web site is more apt to
be remembered.
Do you publish surveys, "rate this" requests, or other
systems that provide certain feedback about your users? If
yes, do you think some users ignore the feedback opportunity
because of perceptions, possibly from past experience, that
participating will be an interruption? What percentage of
user feedback is acceptable to waste that way?
If surveys, etc. are published mostly for the sake of
appearance, it may be of minimal concern that some users
don't interact with it.
When responses are used for exact market research, however,
it can be important for all site visitors to be represented.
When a certain class is not included in the data, those who
don't interact with the web site because it's confusing or
because they anticipate an interruption of their surfing,
the research conclusions may be flawed.
Those are some thoughts about the subject. Your thoughts
count, too. "Contact Us" at /
Question:
Did you find this article interesting and understandable? How can it be improved?
Your response is anonymous.
When done typing, click anywhere outside the box. [more info]
Will Bontrager
©Copyright 2006 Bontrager Connection, LLC Bontrager Connection, LLC
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