Comments on: UIEtips Article: Account Sign-in: 8 Design Mistakes to Avoid http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/ UIE\'s latest insights on the world of design Fri, 5 Dec 2008 13:14:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Web 2.0 Usability Blog http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-117721 Web 2.0 Usability Blog Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:05:52 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-117721 Having to create an account to merely browse products on a site is a sure-fire way of deterring users from staying around. It also removes itself further from matching the system with the real word. There aren't many high street stores that require details of the customer before they can shop there. Having to create an account to merely browse products on a site is a sure-fire way of deterring users from staying around. It also removes itself further from matching the system with the real word. There aren’t many high street stores that require details of the customer before they can shop there.

]]> By: Sam http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-108562 Sam Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:39:23 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-108562 There's an excellent example of ubiquitous registration with <a href="http://www.tripit.com" rel="nofollow"> the Tripit service</a>. No forms, just send them an email and you're registered! Beautiful... There’s an excellent example of ubiquitous registration with the Tripit service. No forms, just send them an email and you’re registered! Beautiful…

]]> By: 10 Blog-Lesetipps der Woche für Shopbetreiber » Tipps, Muster, Checklisten, News, Urteile für Online-Händler » shopbetreiber-blog.de http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-107780 10 Blog-Lesetipps der Woche für Shopbetreiber » Tipps, Muster, Checklisten, News, Urteile für Online-Händler » shopbetreiber-blog.de Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:50:33 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-107780 [...] Account Sign-in: 8 Design Mistakes von UIE Brain Sparks [...] [...] Account Sign-in: 8 Design Mistakes von UIE Brain Sparks [...]

]]> By: usability Calender — Why UI? http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-103498 usability Calender — Why UI? Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:01:45 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-103498 [...] as it support the user task. May:Don’t require login if you don’t have to. - again, Jared Spool (I follow his articles and podcasts regularly). June: Who said usability should be boring - all fun [...] [...] as it support the user task. May:Don’t require login if you don’t have to. - again, Jared Spool (I follow his articles and podcasts regularly). June: Who said usability should be boring - all fun [...]

]]> By: Jessica http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102510 Jessica Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:30:49 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102510 What about the financial industry use of multi-factor authentication? We implemented this recently and have managed to cheese off a bunch of users. Are there any good guidelines or recommendations for that sort of implementation? What about the financial industry use of multi-factor authentication? We implemented this recently and have managed to cheese off a bunch of users. Are there any good guidelines or recommendations for that sort of implementation?

]]> By: Bryan http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102257 Bryan Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:55:42 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102257 I love this list, particularly because it encapsulate several of the more difficult issues to prototype, document or mock up and deliver to an engineering team. Seems like the easy part of desiging a signin form is the form itself. Describing where, how and when it should appear, and the nuances of handling sessions, "remember me", cookies, etc...well, the devil is in the details. Nice list =] I love this list, particularly because it encapsulate several of the more difficult issues to prototype, document or mock up and deliver to an engineering team. Seems like the easy part of desiging a signin form is the form itself. Describing where, how and when it should appear, and the nuances of handling sessions, “remember me”, cookies, etc…well, the devil is in the details. Nice list =]

]]> By: Damon http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102157 Damon Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:23:11 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-102157 Marla, I believe there's a security reason for not being specific on whether it was the user ID or the password that was unrecognized. That said, I have seen some sites that *will* tell you if you used a non-existing user ID, which might be fine for services that don't require that much security. Marla, I believe there’s a security reason for not being specific on whether it was the user ID or the password that was unrecognized. That said, I have seen some sites that *will* tell you if you used a non-existing user ID, which might be fine for services that don’t require that much security.

]]> By: Usability advice for sign in forms http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101981 Usability advice for sign in forms Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:02:29 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101981 [...] a lot worse for the user. And in some cases that can mean loosing a potential customer. In the comments on his weblog there are some more good tips. Posted inUability, User Experience | | You can [...] [...] a lot worse for the user. And in some cases that can mean loosing a potential customer. In the comments on his weblog there are some more good tips. Posted inUability, User Experience | | You can [...]

]]> By: Biznes.iKredyty.com » Blog Archive » Today’s Finds - Web Site Design, Women, Tech & Heart, Jan. 4 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101940 Biznes.iKredyty.com » Blog Archive » Today’s Finds - Web Site Design, Women, Tech & Heart, Jan. 4 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:29:46 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101940 [...] this trick before we let you make a purchase - Account Sign-in: 8 Design Mistakes to Avoid In usability test after usability test, we see the registration and sign-in processes to be [...] [...] this trick before we let you make a purchase - Account Sign-in: 8 Design Mistakes to Avoid In usability test after usability test, we see the registration and sign-in processes to be [...]

]]> By: Marla Erwin http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101937 Marla Erwin Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:02:23 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101937 Another error handling improvement I'd like to see is *specific* error messages. If my login attempt fails, there is no value in this error message: "Either your username or your password is incorrect." That tells me nothing -- at least, nothing I couldn't figure out on my own -- and leaves me right back where I started. It's much more helpful to learn, "That user name does not exist in our system," or "The password you entered does not match the username." Another error handling improvement I’d like to see is *specific* error messages. If my login attempt fails, there is no value in this error message: “Either your username or your password is incorrect.” That tells me nothing — at least, nothing I couldn’t figure out on my own — and leaves me right back where I started. It’s much more helpful to learn, “That user name does not exist in our system,” or “The password you entered does not match the username.”

]]> By: Sean Landry http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101933 Sean Landry Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:13:42 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101933 In addition to these suggestions it's good practice to place the user's visit in context. You shouldn't ask them to register if they have already registered, you should ask them to sign in. A cookie is an easy way to provide different experiences to user's based on if they have signed in before or not. In addition to these suggestions it’s good practice to place the user’s visit in context. You shouldn’t ask them to register if they have already registered, you should ask them to sign in. A cookie is an easy way to provide different experiences to user’s based on if they have signed in before or not.

]]> By: Grant http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101926 Grant Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:17:13 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101926 have to add one. Not Providing a Decent "Session Expired" Page... You've left your browser open for awhile and your login session expires, you click on one of the links, and wham! You get a weird error message saying "invalid exception" or something equally unintelligible. So many site miss this "error" condition and don't design a page telling the user what just happened and what to do about it (log in again) have to add one.
Not Providing a Decent “Session Expired” Page…
You’ve left your browser open for awhile and your login session expires, you click
on one of the links, and wham! You get a weird error message saying “invalid exception”
or something equally unintelligible. So many site miss this “error” condition and don’t design
a page telling the user what just happened and what to do about it (log in again)

]]> By: Judy http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101925 Judy Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:00:58 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101925 All good points, Jared. We have implemented most of your suggestions with great suggest. However, one of the most common complaints we get from our customers is the difficulty remembering their username. We would like to change it to email address (like most ecommerce sites), but not sure how to go about the transition. We don't want to make all of our customers re-register, but what is the alternative? Any suggestions on how we could avoid a usability nightmare, when our end goal is to make it easier? All good points, Jared. We have implemented most of your suggestions with great suggest.

However, one of the most common complaints we get from our customers is the difficulty remembering their username. We would like to change it to email address (like most ecommerce sites), but not sure how to go about the transition.

We don’t want to make all of our customers re-register, but what is the alternative? Any suggestions on how we could avoid a usability nightmare, when our end goal is to make it easier?

]]> By: Charles http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101922 Charles Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:25:36 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101922 I find it interesting and frustrating that an article about usability does not have a place for comments on the page where I am reading the article. I had to go the email, or use the back button to find this page for comments. In forwarding the article to colleagues, most will not have the link to the comments page.. if I forward the link to this page, it is likely most will miss the link to th3 article and not read it. What is the rationale for not having comments for the article? Feels fragmented and confusing to me. I find it interesting and frustrating that an article about usability does not have a place for comments on the page where I am reading the article. I had to go the email, or use the back button to find this page for comments. In forwarding the article to colleagues, most will not have the link to the comments page.. if I forward the link to this page, it is likely most will miss the link to th3 article and not read it.

What is the rationale for not having comments for the article? Feels fragmented and confusing to me.

]]> By: Thomas http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101921 Thomas Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:24:37 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101921 "Cisco, during their four-page registration process, asks the users to specify the number of items presented in search results." That is the stupidest friggin thing I've ever heard of. I mean, really, that's outrageous. Damon's additions in the comment above are great. Handling errors gracefully is absolutely critical in sign-in flows. “Cisco, during their four-page registration process, asks the users to specify the number of items presented in search results.”

That is the stupidest friggin thing I’ve ever heard of. I mean, really, that’s outrageous.

Damon’s additions in the comment above are great. Handling errors gracefully is absolutely critical in sign-in flows.

]]> By: Damon http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101918 Damon Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:52:13 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101918 Nice list. Here's a couple more, related to failed sign-in: Erasing User ID input when sign in fails Probably like most people, I have a couple of user IDs and a couple of passwords. I can never remember which ones I used for a particular site, so I need to use some trial-and-error. This usually starts by trying different passwords with the same user ID. If the user ID gets erased, I have to retype it every time. Annoying, especially if the ID is longer (e-mail address). Erasing 'Remember me' preference (checkbox) when sign-in fails Just because I couldn't provide the correct User ID/Password combination straight away doesn't mean I'm not interested anymore in having my sign-in info remembered for next time. In fact, my failed attempt suggests it might be really useful to have this info remembered. I regularly end up being signed in without 'remember me', because I didn't recheck the box on each try. Which means that next time I use the service, I'll be in the same situation. Remembering a user ID / password combo that doesn't work If I check 'remember me', the next time I use the service, I don't want it to suggest input that won't get me signed in. Nice list. Here’s a couple more, related to failed sign-in:

Erasing User ID input when sign in fails
Probably like most people, I have a couple of user IDs and a couple of passwords. I can never remember which ones I used for a particular site, so I need to use some trial-and-error. This usually starts by trying different passwords with the same user ID. If the user ID gets erased, I have to retype it every time. Annoying, especially if the ID is longer (e-mail address).

Erasing ‘Remember me’ preference (checkbox) when sign-in fails
Just because I couldn’t provide the correct User ID/Password combination straight away doesn’t mean I’m not interested anymore in having my sign-in info remembered for next time. In fact, my failed attempt suggests it might be really useful to have this info remembered. I regularly end up being signed in without ‘remember me’, because I didn’t recheck the box on each try. Which means that next time I use the service, I’ll be in the same situation.

Remembering a user ID / password combo that doesn’t work
If I check ‘remember me’, the next time I use the service, I don’t want it to suggest input that won’t get me signed in.

]]> By: Dave http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101915 Dave Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:18:56 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101915 A client of mine once asked that I make the registration process a bit more work to cut down on the number of leads he was receiving. He wanted fewer more motivated leads. Always a few exceptions :) A client of mine once asked that I make the registration process a bit more work to cut down on the number of leads he was receiving. He wanted fewer more motivated leads. Always a few exceptions :)

]]> By: Jody http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101910 Jody Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:28:17 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2008/01/04/uietips-article-account-sign-in-8-design-mistakes-to-avoid/#comment-101910 Great article, thanks Jared. After reading the subject line, I was expecting a broader topic, not just ecommerce account-related. For example, for account sign-in with financial management websites, your #1 and #2 mistakes aren't always appropriate. There users want to sign-in early, and quite often. Great article, thanks Jared. After reading the subject line, I was expecting a broader topic, not just ecommerce account-related. For example, for account sign-in with financial management websites, your #1 and #2 mistakes aren’t always appropriate. There users want to sign-in early, and quite often.

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