What makes a website successful?
Great article from @boagworld – reiterates some of the basics that often get forgotten.
Tag Archives: persuasion
Consumers Expect Poor Customer Service
Providing contact details
Here’s a great article from David Hamill at http://www.goodusability.co.uk/ on the value and importance of having clear and accurate contact details on your site:
http://www.goodusability.co.uk/2009/06/providing-contact-details/
The key points he makes are that
- It’s cheaper when customers use the website
- The public are getting wise to poor customer service
he also goes on to discuss the visibility and positioning of contact numbers, email addresses and suchlike.
Me makes a number of very sensible points and large companies would do well to heed his advice.
Original article: http://www.goodusability.co.uk/2009/06/providing-contact-details/
Adding a PayPal button to your site
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
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
10 Recipes for Persuasive Content
This article by Colleen Jones in UX Matters gives some well-considered pointers for writing effective, engaging, and more importantly, persuasive content for your website.
Original article: http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2008/12/ten-recipes-for-persuasive-content.php
In many of my columns, I have touted the importance of persuasive, or influential, content and shared relevant theories and arguments, sprinkling in some practical tips and examples along the way.
The article elaborates a number of points, outlined below, with sensible examples were appropriate.
- Talk like a person
- Establish credibility
- Use the right tone for the brand or situation
- Be courteous in your timing and placement of content
- Remind customers of differentiators and benefits
- Appeal to both the left and the right brain—the rational and the emotional
- Tell stories
- Consider using metaphors
- Avoid cheap tricks
- Don’t forget to use images, video, speech, and audio
Selected screen-shots
Figure 8—A subtle reminder on an interstitial search page
Figure 9—A landing page with a mix of rational and emotional appeals
Original article: http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2008/12/ten-recipes-for-persuasive-content.php
Further reading
3 More Recipes for Persuasive Content:
http://www.leenjones.com/blog/2009/01/more-persuasive-content/