Archive | September, 2008

Providing highly relevant user feedback

15 Sep

Web site features and functionality continue to grow, making it important to carefully consider and display only the most relevant feedback to your users.

I came across this example when trying to find a service to update my status on various social networks. To help uncover the problem and the solution you must understand how your application will be used.

This example discusses the default link or trimming behavior on HelloTxt.com and Ping.fm, popular web status update services. Link trimming is important because many micro-blogs, such as Twitter, Yammer and Facebook limit your post to about 140 characters.

hellotxt.com post window
HelloTxt.com provides no indication they will shorten links automatically when posted.

hellotxt.com post result on twitter

If you have shortened the link or you’re posting a short link, the hellotxt.com link (posted on Twitter above) may be longer than your original link.

ping.fm post window

Ping.fm provides relevant user feedback by indicating links will be automatically trimmed. You can disable Ping.fm link shortening by putting an asterisk in front of the desired link.

Periodically check your site for broken links

3 Sep

Use tools such as Mozilla Firefox and the Link Evaluator extension to quickly check all links on a given page. Another way to check links is to use Firefox or Internet Explorer 7, and hold down Ctrl (Open Apple - cmd key on Mac) on your keyboard as you click each link. The new links will open in tabs of the current browser window. Quickly flip through the tabs by pressing Ctrl-Tab (or Open Apple - cmd key Tab) on your keyboard, to close a tab press Ctrl-W (or Open Apple - cmd key W).