A Happy Internet — UX/UI Thoughts

UX joins business objectives and user goals through value propositions

1. Minimize page friction

2. Reduce funnel length

3. Maintain context of messaging

But where did our happy internet go?

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What A Slot Machine Is

If you’ve never played a slot machine before, the concept is simple: you click a button to start the round (your only action in the game), reels spin & then the outcome of the round is presented. Boring right?

Slot machines are effective little devils, extremely well optimized to keep clients in the game and at their seat. They occupy the same medium as a website, but approach it very differently.

Slot machines seek to create stimulation while our web design often actively seeks to minimize it, opting instead for clean, well curated e-pamphlets.

But we can still make a happy internet.

Frequent & Variable Rewards

Play slots and you’ll win very often. There are of course many levels of winning, and most often you’ll win less than you’ve put in, but the win feels fabulous, and you’ll continue.

Now ask yourself, are the rewards we give actually fun, unpredictable, and valuable to the user?

In web product architecture it’s often very important for us to mention all benefits up front: “Get 2 months off when you create a yearly subscription”

The user creates his subscription and we see him in the next retention mail. But what if we gave him an extra unknown reward, right after the purchase — How do you think that will affect his mood towards us?

Story-lines That Engage

Gamblers are often looking for a score, a change of direction, an escape from themselves, a final stroke of luck. The themes built into the machines play into those needs, they catch the user with attractive women, money, mythological gods & branded pop culture heroes.

There is more to a great experience than layout management and color choice.

Mailchimp has a story, a little chimp that carries mail, it’s not much of a story, but it’s enough to bring delight and even lock a place for the brand in a few minds.

Appealing Visuals

There’s a school of thought that sees animation as a “productivity only” tool. If the animation helps convey something useful use it, otherwise spare the user. Even my partner in ux-app.com is a firm believer in this ideal, it’s a shame he doesn’t know how wrong he is!

Delighters are critical to successful software, when we are happy we make decisions that are good for your business.

The user completes a project in ux-app.com? grab that and give him some freaking fireworks! We all deserve fireworks from time to time, don’t we?