UX Blog » call to action http://uxblog.co.uk The ux blog/tweet dump of User Experience specialist Barry Briggs Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:27:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 How the NY Times promotes related articleshttp://uxblog.co.uk/2010/07/19/how-the-nytimes-promotes-rela/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/07/19/how-the-nytimes-promotes-rela/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:05:55 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/07/19/how-the-nytimes-promotes-rela/ How the @nytimes promotes related articles

http://is.gd/dxTF8

Scroll down to end of article & keep your eye on space on right. Subtle #ux

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/07/19/how-the-nytimes-promotes-rela/feed/ 0 Principle of least astonishmenthttp://uxblog.co.uk/2010/06/21/principle-of-least-astonishmen/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/06/21/principle-of-least-astonishmen/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:57:11 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/06/21/principle-of-least-astonishmen/ Principle of least astonishment

http://bit.ly/cNIMfn

(from @viborc on uxpassion.com)

Great concept but some case studies would make the article a bit more relevant #ux

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/06/21/principle-of-least-astonishmen/feed/ 0 iPad Usability: First Findings From User Testinghttp://uxblog.co.uk/2010/05/11/ipad-usability-first-findings/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/05/11/ipad-usability-first-findings/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 15:55:19 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/05/11/ipad-usability-first-findings/ iPad Usability: First Findings From User Testing

(from @NNgroup)

Summary: http://is.gd/c4okC

Full report: http://www.nngroup.com/reports/mobile/ipad/

Apps too linear, ignoring established #ux conventions

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/05/11/ipad-usability-first-findings/feed/ 0 Super-usable ecommerce websites that I love #1: Nabruhttp://uxblog.co.uk/2010/03/09/super-usable-ecommerce-website/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/03/09/super-usable-ecommerce-website/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:56:09 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/03/09/super-usable-ecommerce-website/ Super-usable ecommerce websites that I love #1: Nabru

http://bit.ly/9rg2bK

(via @Pod1)

Nice choice and good summary of Nabru’s key features

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/03/09/super-usable-ecommerce-website/feed/ 0 Do Your Landing Pages Suck?http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/02/26/do-your-landing-pages-suck-ht/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/02/26/do-your-landing-pages-suck-ht/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:49:14 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/02/26/do-your-landing-pages-suck-ht/ Do Your Landing Pages Suck?

http://bit.ly/NdkWU

from @istudio

#ux

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2010/02/26/do-your-landing-pages-suck-ht/feed/ 0 The Apple Store’s Checkout Form Redesignhttp://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/16/the-apple-stores-checkout-for/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/16/the-apple-stores-checkout-for/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:18:59 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/16/the-apple-stores-checkout-for/ The Apple Store’s Checkout Form Redesign

http://bit.ly/5ZR5oD

via @lukewdesign

Nicely done & well worth the time it took :)

#ux

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/16/the-apple-stores-checkout-for/feed/ 1 Reese Witherspoon ‘bigs up’ Code-produced site for Refuge on Jonathan Rosshttp://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/08/reese-witherspoon-aebigs-upae/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/08/reese-witherspoon-aebigs-upae/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:45:12 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/08/reese-witherspoon-aebigs-upae/ Reese Witherspoon ‘bigs up’ Code-produced site for Refuge on Jonathan Ross

http://bit.ly/8V3n48

via @computerlovers

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/08/reese-witherspoon-aebigs-upae/feed/ 0 What makes a website successful?http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/04/what-makes-a-website-successfu/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/04/what-makes-a-website-successfu/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:24:47 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/04/what-makes-a-website-successfu/ What makes a website successful?

http://is.gd/5c6ST

Great article from @boagworld – reiterates some of the basics that often get forgotten.

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/12/04/what-makes-a-website-successfu/feed/ 0 Paper prototyping iPhone appshttp://uxblog.co.uk/2009/11/18/paper-prototyping-iphone-apps/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/11/18/paper-prototyping-iphone-apps/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:53:44 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/?p=252 Found link via youtube:

The process feels a little disjointed and could be smoother, but this is a common problem with paper prototyping and on the whole I think it’s a nice idea.

One concern I do have however, is how long the paper templates took to create. Surely you could put something together Axure or similar in a shorter time, and which would be more reusable than these pieces of paper…?

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/11/18/paper-prototyping-iphone-apps/feed/ 0 Adding a PayPal button to your sitehttp://uxblog.co.uk/2009/02/03/adding-a-paypal-button-to-your-site/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/02/03/adding-a-paypal-button-to-your-site/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:58:21 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/?p=130 Added PayPal to your site recently? This site for Five Simple Steps‘ new book “A Practical Guide to Designing for the Web” has a nice, simple explanation for users how they can use the PayPal service.

Five Simple Steps' PayPal message

Five Simple Steps' PayPal message

The text works well to remove any preconceived barriers the user might have about not having a PayPal account:

Transactions are handled through paypal but you don’t need a paypal account to buy this book. Any credit or debit card will do! (If at any stage in the ordering process you encounter a problem please contact us)

The credit and debit card logos underneath the text reinforce the message by echoing more traditional eCommerce payment methods.

Source page: http://www.fivesimplesteps.co.uk/books/details/1

]]> http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/02/03/adding-a-paypal-button-to-your-site/feed/ 0 10 techniques for an effective ‘call to action’http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/01/23/10-techniques-for-an-effective-call-to-action/ http://uxblog.co.uk/2009/01/23/10-techniques-for-an-effective-call-to-action/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:00:11 +0000 Barry http://uxblog.co.uk/?p=102 This is a really good article that documents the obvious and the not-so-obvious design decisions behind creating effective calls to action…

Original article: http://boagworld.com/design/10_techniques_for_an_effective/

Having an effective call to action is an essential part of any website. A call to action is not just limited to ecommerce sites. Every website should have an objective it wants users to complete whether it is filling in a contact form, signup for a newsletter or volunteering their time.

…

An effective call to action is the linchpin of a successful site and involves drawing together best practice in usability, creative visual design and powerful copy writing.

Summary

  1. lay the groundwork
  2. offer a little extra
  3. have a small number of distinct actions
  4. use active urgent language
  5. get the position right
  6. use white space
  7. use an alternative colour
  8. make it big
  9. have a call to action on every page
  10. carry the call through

Selected screen-shots from the article

Skype clearly show the benefits of downloading their application

Skype clearly show the benefits of downloading their application

The Things website draws attention to its calls to action by using a constrasting colour

The Things website draws attention to its calls to action by using a constrasting colour

Original article: http://boagworld.com/design/10_techniques_for_an_effective/

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