Defensive Design for the Web: How to Improve Error Messages, Help, Forms, and Other Crisis Points

Description

Let's admit it: Things will go wrong online. No matter how carefully you design a site, no matter how much testing you do, customers still encounter problems. So how do you handle these inevitable breakdowns? With defensive design. In this book, the experts at 37signals (whose clients include Microsoft, Qwest, Monster.com, and Clear Channel) will show you how.

Defensive design is like defensive driving brought to the Web. The same way drivers must always be on the lookout for slick roads, reckless drivers, and other dangerous scenarios, site builders must constantly search for trouble spots that cause visitors confusion and frustration. Good site defense can make or break the customer experience.

In these pages, you'll see hundreds of real-world examples from companies like Amazon, Google, and Yahoo that show the right (and wrong) ways to get defensive. You'll learn 40 guidelines to prevent errors and rescue customers if a breakdown occurs. You'll also explore how to evaluate your own site's defensive design and improve it over the long term.

This book is a must read for designers, programmers, copywriters, and any other site decision-makers who want to increase usability and customer satisfaction.

Get the book

Amazon.com

Search the book

eBay.com

Search the book

Similar books

• 

  電競運動管理概論： 從娛樂到職業——選手、實況、粉絲經濟，解構新興億萬商機

  By 林立薇, 林淑媛, 胡舉軍

  電競賽事戰略設計的思考可依據目前團隊的資源,例如:選手的情況、地圖資源的選擇、競爭對手的團隊資源,來加以設計,預選一條對我方有利的戰略執行。傳統上,戰略表現為不同的形式,而每一種戰略都在創造特定的價值。我們可以將戰略分成三大類:競爭戰略、財務 ...

• 

  三维游戏角色设计

  By 陈力, 张颖编著, 李若梅主审

  Selection 「 By Vertex Ignore Backfacing By Angle : 45.0 Shrink Grow while Ring Loop Preview Selection OFF SubObj Multi 15 Polygons Selected 4-67 选择透视图,单击面选择命令,使用快捷键【 shift + E 】挤出命令,制作出斜方肌部分模型, ...

• 

  游戏美术设计

  By 李瑞森, 战晶编著

  在周时期后,中国的筑艺术可分为三典型的时代风格。 1.汉风格周时期中国筑已形成了某些重要的艺术征,如整规则的、纵轴对的布局、木梁架的结构体(由顶、、基组成的单体造型,顶在面占的重大)。秋战国时期,诸侯据,各国不同,筑风格也不统一,大体上可归纳为两 ...

• 

  Beginning 3D Game Programming

  By Tom Miller

  There are many programming hobbyists who write 2D games but there are far fewer that grasp the concepts of 3D programming. Although there are also quite a few ¿game development¿...

• 

  Beyond Reality: A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming

  By John Gosney

  This is not a game—or is it? Alternate reality games (ARGs) ask players to ignore barriers that separate the real world from the virtual—Web sites, television ads, movie credits, and...

• 

  Retro Gaming Hacks

  By Chris Kohler

  Maybe it was the recent Atari 2600 milestone anniversary that fueled nostalgia for the golden days of computer and console gaming. Every Game Boy must ponder his roots from time...

• 

  Real-time Strategy Game Programming Using DirectX 6.0

  By Mickey Kawick

  Delving into the concept of real-time strategy, this guide includes practical, hands-on programming and use of artificial intelligence; a unique graphics engine developed by the author; and multiple game design...

• 

  游_行_微____攻略

  By 海天_商金融研究中心

  �本__“技巧＋案例”___出__助_者快速成_游_行_的微__高手！技巧__容包括3_O2O__要素、4种微__工具、4种___文_作技巧、5种盈利模式、5种O2O__模式，并____平台、游___、游__新与未_等方面_行了全面、__的_解！案例__容包括__游_、手机游_、VR游_、角色_游_、_作_游_、_技_游_、休__游_、策略_游_等，近100__典与_新案例。本_通_20__家提醒、100多____解、240多_高清_片__些不同_型游_的__技巧与策略_行了分析。本__构清晰，适合游_行___者与__者、网_游___者、__者，以及_游_感_趣的人使用。

• 

  Photoshop Studio Skills: For Photoshop 7 and Photoshop Cs

  By Design Graphics

  Here are your favorite classic Photoshop tricks and tops from Design Graphics — compiled in one volume and updated to work with Photoshop 7 and Photoshop cs! You need a...

• 

  Experiments with letterform and calligraphy

  By André Gürtler

  This book charts the importance of teaching an inventive path within visual design, opening up a unique dimension of creative work. It presents a wide range of interesting possibilities for...