// 1 Reason Why You Need To Give Your Web Site A Hickey…
// Apr 5th, 2008 & filed under Design….and 5 elements you need to remove/edit on your blog a.s.a.p.
A couple of weeks ago, one of my web friends, Chris Pearson, wrote an interesting (as always) article on the topic of categories, primarily aimed at bloggers.
The article struck a cord with me. In fact, as I read it, it brought to my mind something I had read not long ago; Hick’s Law.
In the article, Chris states;
By giving users a list of categories to browse on your site, you are creating a psychological conundrum that usually leaves them with a severe case of analysis paralysis. This is a condition where users, when presented with too many options, end up selecting nothing at all.
This “analysis paralysis” or “psychological conundrum” Chris mentions, is a real problem. A problem, I might add, which is heightened by overly zealous bloggers.
The Law Explained
If you want to read a dry definition of Hick’s Law, head on over to wikipedia. For the layman, in practical down-to-earth terms, the law basically argues that, the time it takes to make a decision increases as the number of options increases.
Now, the ‘law’ has its limitations. For instance, if the options are lengthy, and require a certain level of ’study’, then it doesn’t apply.
It only applies where a simple decision is required from multiple options.
A good example is a simple menu found in most software programs. The more items on the menu, the longer it will take the user to make their choice.
The #1 reason you should apply Hick’s Law to web design
It makes life easier for your visitors. By removing all but the very elite, and highly targeted options, users will find it easier to continue.
The majority of visitors to your blog initially land on an inner page. Most likely to an article you’ve written, which they’ve found through a search engine, or via a link on another site. If you’re like most of us, you want your unique visitors to hang around for a while, so you shove heaps of options in their face, right? Right??
The options we present to our visitors, are generally found in the sidebar(s). As soon as I think of a sidebar having lots of options, there are a few sites which pop into my mind. I’m not going to mention them, as I don’t like to embarrass, but I went to check out the first which came to mind, and counted 30 ‘recent posts’ links, 25 categories, a list of monthly archives, and a few other less ‘generic’ lists of links. Of course, all that comes after a host of ads, subscription options, and a brief ‘about’.
It’s crazy, and thinking back in over a year of visiting that particular site, I cannot remember ever clicking on a link in the sidebar.
On the other hand, sites like Pearsonified and Skelliewag tend to draw their visitors in. With less options, visitors are not as prone to “analysis paralysis” and delve deeper into the content of the site. A good thing, wouldn’t you agree? After all, the more good content visitors read, the more likely they are to become subscribers.
So, here are 5 elements you need to think about removing/editing, in order to craft a more effective web site for your visitors.
#1 Categories
Chris would say remove them altogether, and he makes a very valid point in his recent post. As a result, I haven’t ruled out removing my own list of categories in the future. At the very least though, you may need to cut down the number of them. Most blogs should be able to limit their categories to ten, give or take a few. Any more, and you’re not isolating your niche sufficiently.
#2 Archives
Get rid of them. Whether they’re monthly, annual or otherwise, people are not using your archive links. Limit them to a single page.
#3 Blogroll
Don’t have a blogroll. Very few people ever actually click on your recommended sites (I’ve got a few just until I bulk out this site a little, and structure the sidebar the way I want it). Instead, create a ‘resources’ page, and make all your favourite related links appear more useful to your visitors.
#4 MyBlogLog and flickr
Ok, flickr may serve a purpose on a personal blog, and in one or two other circumstances, but, even in these cases I’m just being generous. I like good photography, but I’ve never clicked on a thumb-nail image drawn from a flickr account to a blog. Never. Maybe it’s just me, but I reckon many are the same.
As for MyBlogLog, it’s totally pointless, and slows the load time of your site considerably. Lose it.
#5 Awards and miscellaneous
Don’t get me started on those award badges. Seriously, nobody cares! At best, those ‘badges’ may warrant a place on an individual pages (like ‘about’ or ‘awards’), but they do not deserve sidebar space. As for all that other needless junk … you know it’s junk. It’s so useless, you’ve probably even forgot it’s there. Ditch it my friend!
So, now equipped with Hick’s Law, I suggest you head off and put it into practice. They won’t take the time to realise it, but your visitors will thank you for it with increased page views, and you’ll be happy in the knowledge that the overall user experience, will be much improved.
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Well, I totally disagree with Chris Pearson’s point, as I explained here:
http://trancesandance.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-getting-rid-of-categories-is-crazy.html
But sure, applying Hick’s Law is a thing to do, you just need to stay reasonable.
I disagree about the categories. For example I use 17 well defined categories that easily explains what my site is all about just as a glance. It allows people to read only what they are interested in as well.
I also disagree with the blogroll. I know I am listed on a few quality graphic design sites and in total from about 5 different websites I get 100 visits a day just from Blog Roll listings so people do click on them.
I couldn’t agree more about the badges/awards and the bloglogs.
I think you should have an archives page at the very least.
I agree about Flickr, I too have never clicked on a thumbnail.
Agreement, disagreement, and discussion are all nice, but this issue is purely about metrics.
Even if you think your categories are “well-defined” and serve a specific purpose for your site, the only thing that matters is if your users actually prove this to be true.
For me, the metrics strongly support the setup described in my original article (and emphasized in this article). On top of that, my search engine traffic suggests that this type of site building strategy is more effective in that regard as well.
Well according to my stats people are clicking on the categories so I suppose it is working in my respect but I can agree when I see blogs with millions of categories I would never click on one.
I have also actually changed my blogroll into a drop down list to save on clutter and only have about 15 in it.
I did read your other post and it was enlightening.
Norswap - Interesting post, and good to see you sharing your opinion buddy.
Jacob - I’m glad to see you sharing your honest thoughts. I must admit, I’m a little surprised to read that you get 100 a day from the blogrolls of other sites. I suppose if the blogrolls contain ten or less links, it will increase the chances of getting clicked, but many blogrolls contain scores of links, which dilutes the value considerably.
Again, in my own experience, I hardly ever use categories, if at all.
Chris - Thanks for visiting. As I said in the article, I concur with the thrust of your analysis. I’m still not fully sure about removing all categories. Maybe grouping articles as a series, and manually listing them in a single page, and masquerading it as a category would be good?
I find Smashing Magazines method quite useful. They’ve got categories listed horizontally across the top (which I never use), and they’ve got all their best articles listed in the sidebar. It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s better than the usual method.
Actually you are correct, these sites do only have about 10 or less in their blog rolls. They send pretty good traffic as well. They tend to search around my site (about 4 pages on average).
Jacob - Nice! That’s the best kind of traffic.
On a new page I have just created “Wot U Think” I have also used the categories as a secondary navigation. I then use the tags as most people would normally use the categories.
I do agree with the main point of less clutter and less options. Im learning that with my study and research of the above website.
Thank you for this article, because i want to start my own blog in next time.
Many points are helpful for me to avoid mistakes with the start of my own blog.
Ralph
Jermayn - I would say ‘Wot U Think’ cannot be classed as a regular blog. Its purpose is different, so I wouldn’t worry too much about some of the principles taught here.
Ralph - Glad to be able to help. If you’ve any questions about blogging, or design, don’t hesitate to ask.
I agree 100% with the Category remark. I’m not in favor of completely removing them, though. I try to keep mine under ten. At the moment, I think I have about six. …You can’t flood the user with choices - or they’ll make none (as you said).