37 replies to this topic

[Scottie]

I love this guy... we are definitely on the same wavelength.

Interview with Steve Krug

Even if you don't read the interview, (and you should... what, you have something better to do?) Steve's resources at the bottom of the article are some links to some excellent usability sites.

[Jill]

I've never read his stuff (yet) but I'm definitely a big proponent of not making people think. To me, that's the difference between good writing and bad. If I have to think, it's most likely not very good.

Going to read the interview now...

[Scottie]

OK, that's one...

Who's next?

[juliesjewels]

I've read and bookmarked the article.

But, I'm confused because he mentions that the most common mistake he sees when reviewing a site is "Too much--of everything." Then he's asked to give examples of site with good usability. He likes Amazon, eBay, Google (which I do understand) and Bestbuy.com.

I think Bestbuy, Amazon & especially eBay are some of the most confusing sites out there regarding navigation. Ebay has stuff all over the page; Bestbuy has about 100+ links on the home page all going in different directions, and I almost could not figure out where the "checkout" button was on Amazon a few months ago.

Am I just not getting what he's trying to say in the article? I think he's contradicting himself by recommending the "less is more" theory while at the same time using eBay, Amazon & Bestbuy as examples of good usability. Where am I going wrong?

[Haystack]

I think the thing that helps set the successful sites he mentions (amazon, ebay, google, etc.) is that they are always testing changes to their site. If you rolled any of those sites back to what it was a year or two ago, I think you'd be surprised at how many changes they've made that you take for granted today.

I'll 2nd Krug's recommendation of Jakob's books and reports. If you're not passionate about this stuff, you could use his reports to cure insomnia, but anyone could benefit from the checklists he includes in his book. Pick a rule from the checklist, see how your site addresses it, how your competition does, how the best sites on the web do, and how real-world people interact with it on your site. Then adjust, test, next.

[Haystack]

Amazon and Ebay's drill-down navigation can certainly be overwhelming, but the quality of their site search engines is very impressive. Luckily for them, that's probably the most common way people use their sites - at least until they find something they like, at which point they may be able to browse to similar products from there.

I agree with you about Amazon's checkout button. A client of mine did some great business off Adwords links appearing on Amazon for products searched for on their site. In many cases, they had the products in stock and at a lower price, yet bought from my client. I'm convinced it had something to do with Amazon's checkout button location, and figured they may have been doing it on purpose because they may actually make more money on the Adwords ads than fulfilling orders on some products.

[Connie]

I'll only comment on Amazon. Actually I think they have a good drill down navigation which is fairly easy to follow. At least in the area I'm interested in. When you get to an actual product page is where the problem starts for me. There are 15 links without description. 1 2 3 4 etc. I realize this is a problem for a large site like Amazon but there has to be a better way. Personally I'm not going to click through that many links to see if they might have what I'm looking for. Probably one reason they started displaying Adwords on their pages.

[randfish]

Mr. Krug is literally my hero. I think his book - Don't Make Me Think - is the greatest piece of writing on the subject of websites - period.

I find myself reading his book over and over as I build new sites and I still can't get enough - it really is advanced common sense put into application.

That said, the interview isn't nearly as powerful - some good lessons, but overall, it doesn't do him or the book justice.

[water cooler boy]

I agree his book is just fantastic, I would recomend it without hesitation, everyone who designs websites should read it.

Justin

[Dave]

I read 'Don't Make Me Think' a few years a go when I first started designing. Thought it was excellent and still refer back occasionally to help me explain what I'm trying to do.

Dave

[bobster234]

'Don't make me think' is on my highly recommended list too. It is a quick read invest an hour or so to read it.

[sweepthelegnate]

what I appreciate about the book is the fact that it actually includes a section on how to to usability testing for websites...it just isn't a book the fact that you should do them, but it actually gets your started doing them.



nathan

[juliesjewels]

what I appreciate about the book is the fact that it actually includes a section on how to to usability testing for websites...it just isn't a book the fact that you should do them, but it actually gets your started doing them.
nathan

Wow! You guys have convinced me to buy the book. And, I even went to Amazon.com, searched for that checkout button and will have the book in time for weekend reading.

Thanks everyone!

[sweepthelegnate]

Wow! You guys have convinced me to buy the book. And, I even went to Amazon.com, searched for that checkout button and will have the book in time for weekend reading.

darn, guess I should have used an affilate link in that last post


nathan

[Minerva]

Steve Krug is great and I wish he hadn't disappeared. I would love to get an e-newsletter from him.

Does anyone know what he's up to? He should write another book.

-Andrea-