Comments on: The Science of Online Forms http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/book-reviews/the-science-of-online-forms/ the blog of Applied Web Analyitcs Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:53:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dan http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/book-reviews/the-science-of-online-forms/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Dan Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:02:59 +0000 http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/?p=335#comment-260 Caroline, Mel, Thanks for your comments and kind words. In terms of spotting poor forms, I had a frustrating experience whilst trying to submit a job to PeoplePerHour (www.peopleperhour.com). I put in all my credit card details but forgot to put in my CV2 number (the three digits on the back of the card). Instead of keeping all my credit card details and highlight the missing CV2 number, the website cleared all my details and I had to start again. Very annoying - and broke one of the key recommendations in Caroline's book - don't punish the user for making a mistake. If anyone else comes across examples of poor forms, please add a comment. Thanks Dan Caroline, Mel,

Thanks for your comments and kind words.

In terms of spotting poor forms, I had a frustrating experience whilst trying to submit a job to PeoplePerHour (www.peopleperhour.com).

I put in all my credit card details but forgot to put in my CV2 number (the three digits on the back of the card). Instead of keeping all my credit card details and highlight the missing CV2 number, the website cleared all my details and I had to start again. Very annoying – and broke one of the key recommendations in Caroline’s book – don’t punish the user for making a mistake.

If anyone else comes across examples of poor forms, please add a comment.

Thanks

Dan

]]> By: Mel Henson http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/book-reviews/the-science-of-online-forms/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Mel Henson Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:39:29 +0000 http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/?p=335#comment-139 As a writer I have long preached that order forms (both online and offline) are a crucial part of the selling process and should be 'copywritten' as much as any other advertising material. Looking at things from the customer point of view always improves the sales - it's good to see that message expressed again. I really like the idea of 'refusers, readers and rushers'. Thanks for the review. As a writer I have long preached that order forms (both online and offline) are a crucial part of the selling process and should be ‘copywritten’ as much as any other advertising material.

Looking at things from the customer point of view always improves the sales – it’s good to see that message expressed again.

I really like the idea of ‘refusers, readers and rushers’.

Thanks for the review.

]]> By: Caroline Jarrett http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/book-reviews/the-science-of-online-forms/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Caroline Jarrett Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:19:31 +0000 http://www.appliedwebanalytics.com/blog/?p=335#comment-119 Hi Dan I'm really pleased that you liked our book and found it valuable. As usual, I focused immediately on the criticisms. Firstly: redacting of postcodes and company names, etc.. We felt that the specific detail wasn't necessary to make the points we wanted in for the examples: apologies if you found it intrusive. A couple of specific details: - In the UK, a postcode can indicate a single address and usually covers only about 10 homes, so this was a privacy issue. - If we used a screenshot that criticized a particular organisation's form, we wanted to make a point about the form, not to make the organisation look bad. We know that most organisations are trying as hard as they can in difficult circumstances. So we anonymised the organisation's details. Secondly: on the many government forms examples- my secret is out! It's true, I do work a lot on government forms. I did try really hard to ensure that we had a good range of examples from other types of forms as well. If you come across an example of good (or bad) forms design, please let me know. I'll aim to include a reference to it from the book's companion web site. Finally: as you so rightly point out, there are plenty of forms out there that offer opportunities for improvement. That was the reason for writing the book. Thanks again for the review. Cheers Caroline Jarrett www.formsthatwork.com Hi Dan

I’m really pleased that you liked our book and found it valuable.

As usual, I focused immediately on the criticisms.

Firstly: redacting of postcodes and company names, etc.. We felt that the specific detail wasn’t necessary to make the points we wanted in for the examples: apologies if you found it intrusive.

A couple of specific details:
- In the UK, a postcode can indicate a single address and usually covers only about 10 homes, so this was a privacy issue.
- If we used a screenshot that criticized a particular organisation’s form, we wanted to make a point about the form, not to make the organisation look bad. We know that most organisations are trying as hard as they can in difficult circumstances. So we anonymised the organisation’s details.

Secondly: on the many government forms examples- my secret is out! It’s true, I do work a lot on government forms. I did try really hard to ensure that we had a good range of examples from other types of forms as well.

If you come across an example of good (or bad) forms design, please let me know. I’ll aim to include a reference to it from the book’s companion web site.

Finally: as you so rightly point out, there are plenty of forms out there that offer opportunities for improvement. That was the reason for writing the book.

Thanks again for the review.

Cheers
Caroline Jarrett
http://www.formsthatwork.com

]]>