[Sigia-l] requiring users to identify the audience category they are in

[Listera]

Kenneth Bryson:

> Specifically, our site requires users to self-categorize into
> 'residents' 'visitors' or 'business.'   However, I feel this is a
> mis-labeling scenario.  Not only do the top level categories not provide
> any real clue as to the content they categorize, much of the content is
> actually cross-linked between numerous categories.

It may be a mislabeling scenario or an architectural one. In any case, you
have three choices:

1.  Forget segregation
2.  Let users self select
3.  Quiz them yourself

The last one is problematic in the sense of being annoying wrt perceived
payback value. But if you can narrow it down to 3-4 brief questions that
best describe the three categories and the benefits users will get by
answering them, it may be tolerable.

Whatever you do, don't be fooled by some generic best practices study, it's
all a matter of context. How you present the segregation, when you do it,
how long the process is, what the perceived benefits are, how clearly
segregated the categories may be, how familiar they would be to your users,
etc., makes all the difference in the world.

----
Ziya

Usability >  Simplify the Solution
Design >  Simplify the Problem