Snap Previews- Flashy vs. Functional?
You may have noticed a new feature that we've implemented on a very limited basis. The free service is called "Snap Previews" and it allows you to create dynamic links with a pop-up preview of the link. Seting up the feature on your website is a snap (no pun intended), only requiring the addition of a few lines of code.As designers, we're torn whether this feature is a good idea. On one hand, it's kind of flashy and cool. On the other hand, the large preview window can be a distraction, clunky to use and not very functional. If you're a designer, you understand striving for a balance between functional and cool.
We first displayed Snap Previews earlier this month and have used it very sparingly ever since. In retrospect, this must mean that we've subconciously concluded that the "coolness" factor didn't outweigh the loss in functionality. Either that... or we've been too lazy to add the extra line of code. :)
The flashy vs. functional debate of "Snap Preview" has me torn. To add to my confusion, I continue to see other popular blogs heavily using Snap Preview on nearly all links. So, the question must be asked... is this feature just flashy or is it really functional?
Labels: cws, design, snap, useability, web2.0
posted by Alan De Keyrel @ 8:15 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
I used it for a little while, after Mike at Converstations recommended it. I like its function. However, when I post a link on my own blog, I want readers to follow it, hopefully by opening a new page and visiting it AFTER reading my own site.
With the preview, people are apt to jump to a judgment on the site which was linked to - something I didn't want my readers doing. I think it is a great idea and all, but only suited to certain types of websites and blogs.
I've noticed Vincent Flanders is using snap for his review of bad web practices website. It makes perfect sense to use this on his site but I find the feature annoying on other sites where implementing the feature just doesn't make sense.
Here's several trains of thoughts randomly typed out without real coherence or structure...
The usability issue on this (and the "2nd most popular link" stuff) is based in the fact that interest in the link isn't the only reason a mouse pointer occupies that portion of the screen.
I'm (what I've self-coined) a "mouse follower." I use the mouse to follow along with what I'm reading on the page. Often, I'll even highlight a chunk of text for no real reason, but mainly I move the mouse to generally follow where I'm gazing....I guess if I really thought about it- I'd say that I want the mouse pointer in my peripheral, or at least near where I'm looking. Anyway...as I understand it, it's not that uncommon a trait/habit.
So these trends bother me a bit... it turns my reading into a sort of "minefield" of popped up things that disctract and overlay on what I'm actually reading- which I find pretty disturbing.
Usefulness? I don't know- It goes down the "it depends" category. I like to think that I could trust you (CWS) to not link to something that wouldn't be work safe or something I wouldn't want my kid to see. But that's because I understand this is a company blog, the level of professionalism you have etc... so I don't think it's really needed. I mean, I can't read the page at all. I know most people form an opinion o the site VERY quickly just based off the very first glimpse of it, so it would be worth studying if that applies to a thumbnail as well... so there may be value added there, but all in all, I trust *this* site enough to konw that whatever links you through up are going to interesting and relevant. I don't think an image of the page will help me anyway.
Besides, I mainly just load images up in tabs in the background... I make that decision even before the snap image comes up.
More thoughts- Even though I don't like it in general, I think it has more potential use than the "2nd most popular..." distraction that you use here. I've never understood that. I'd think that if this was going to be useful, you could do something that doesn't require the user to interact with the link in order to see it's popularity. Setting aside my "mouse-follow" comment for a minute (as it's a 'general' follow, but when I specifically do focus on a link, that's differnt) I think that if I'm going to click/focus on a link I've already shown my interest in it and don't really care how popular it is. It's always an afterthought.. an "icing on the cake" feeling: "hmm others thought this was good to follow just like me!" But I don't randomly hover over every link you have looking for the most popular link. I've always thought a very tiny image next to the link indicating the top ranks of links would be a better alternative. Something so I could scan the page and thing "ah! that's what everyone's interested in today..."
...and seeing "2nd most popular outgoing link" doesn't really mean anything useful at all when you're clicking on the comments link.
Can't we tall it's popularity by the (459)Comments vs. (0)Comments ?
Not to mention it's not *really* an outgoing link at all.
Actually the comments link is going to blogger.com (an external site) but your right it shouldn't be treated that way.
Is there a way to specify addresses to exempt?
Edward, I might agree with you on the "4th most popular link" pop-up. It may not in fact be useful/informational. In that case, it should be gone.
Very helpful article, really liked it!!
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