Comments on: User-friendly error messages: 7 tips

By: 10 most popular usability articles in 2009 | Uxable

10 most popular usability articles in 2009 | Uxable — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:27:58 +0000

[...] User-friendly error messages: 7 tips A lot of websites make usability mistakes on their form pages. And that costs visitors. On a form page that’s extra painful because if you lose a visitor there, you loose a very valuable visitor. A visitor who’s willing to make the effort to get in touch with you or perhaps even to order something. 7 tips for user-friendly error messages. [...]

By: Atomiton

Atomiton — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:36:58 +0000

One comment regarding email addresses. If they didn’t enter an email address, sure, “please enter an email address” is good. However, if it’s an invalid email address. saying something like “Please enter a valid email address” isn’t the best, because they may have made a typo and won’t catch the “VALID” word in the middle. Instead, something like: “We couldn’t validate the email address. Please check your email and enter a valid address.” may work. I know the wording isn’t the best, but I’m just thinking off the cuff. The point is, if the user has made a typographical error, it’s usually good to point it out, as most users will only glance at the error message and assume they’re missing something.

By: Els Aerts

Els Aerts — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:22:58 +0000

@Erika: You’re absolutely right. ‘You did not’ is to be avoided in error messages. My bad.

By: Erika

Erika — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:19:24 +0000

Hi,

Did you notice that under ‘3. Be nice,’ your example text “You did not enter the correct text etc” is critiqued in your very own ‘5. Don’t blame the user’? I cringed at the “you did not” myself. How about, “Those characters didn’t match. Try this one”?

I couldn’t agree more with the mantra to never blame the user. It is always up to us to be clear and accommodating.

erika

By: 10 most popular usability articles in 2009 - The Web Usability Blog

10 most popular usability articles in 2009 - The Web Usability Blog — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:41:10 +0000

[...] User-friendly error messages: 7 tips [...]

By: En guide til feilmeldinger i webløsninger – Stammen.no

En guide til feilmeldinger i webløsninger – Stammen.no — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:52 +0000

[...] Brukervennlige feilmeldinger: 7 tips (The Web usability blog) [...]

By: Marijn

Marijn — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:21:22 +0000

pingback: http://marijnsomers.blogspot.com/2009/10/web-usability-blog-hits-nail-on-error.html

Love your blog, and specially this post!! I couldn’t agree more!!

By: Els Aerts

Els Aerts — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:10:37 +0000

Thanks for adding your tips, Julia!

By: Julia Slavin

Julia Slavin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:23:42 +0000

Nice tips in overall. I could only add a few to strengthen the point:
* Make a tip per a field – it’s not so nice to get to the top of the page, read the message and look down for the relevant field.
* Where is possible to validate the input in real time – do it and show the tip immediately after the field loses focus.
* Show positive indicator after verifying the data. For example, if the visitor has submitted a valid email address, color the field’s borders in green.
* Keep the error tips as short as possible, even if it makes them less mannered. For example, instead of “To create a strong password, please use both letters and numbers. Passwords may be maximum six characters long”, say “Please combine up to 6 letters and numbers”. This bullet a little bit contradicts your 4th tip about being more specific. I suppose that a compromise should be found to keep the message clear yet brief.
* Present your tips in a way that doesn’t take any effort from the visitor, for example clicking on an (?) icon to switch the tip on and off.

Good luck with your forms!