Amadeus Consulting Discusses Using Minimal Content to Drive Mobile User Experience Design
Computers & Technology → Internet
- Author Lisa Calkins
- Published January 7, 2011
- Word count 728
As we discussed in our previous post "Using Content Strategy to Drive User Experience," we talked about the importance of content in driving user experience design. But what does one do if you are talking content for mobile app development or mobile site design? Content is (or should be) decidedly limited, and therefore needs special considerations.
Designing the content for mobile applications is something we have become quite good at in a short period of time. Our mobile application developers are close to reaching their 50th application (iPhone™, Android™, BlackBerry® and Windows Phone™ applications) in the span of about a year and a half. At the beginning we did not quite know how to handle this new content scenario, but we have rapidly learned what works and what is simply too wordy.
Here are some considerations when designing content for mobile applications:
Convey Actions/Directives
When it comes to mobile apps, people like to be told what to do. Not in a negative way, but in a way that allows them to never be confused about their next action. Verbs with a noun or short adjective can go a long way, and are really the only things the people need to guide them.
Stick to phrases like:
Play New Game
Email Us!
Login
These may sound basic, but simple is better when navigating.
Minimalism & Focus
In his article, "What Websites can learn from Mobile," Michael Wilson brings up a great point that seems so simple and obvious, but is often overlooked in mobile application development. When people user their smartphones, they are rarely just browsing. Rather, they are rather focused on a specific task. Smartphones really aren’t set up for effective and easy browsing and that often gets forgotten. This means that people try to throw everything but the kitchen sink into an app or a mobile site, leaving the user to sift through several levels of content till they get where they need to go.
Something that helps minimize the amount of content needed is to think about how someone is using your application. By the time they reach it, they will already know what they want to accomplish, and there is little need for wordy explanation.
Not only will focusing the function of the application to include a core set of functions benefit the flow of the overall application, but it will also make your content much easier to use. It will break it down to the functions and actions that make navigating so much easier.
Instructions/Storylines
The only place where wordiness might work is in instruction sections, about the application, or storylines that are critical explanations of the mobile application. This often occurs when creating mobile apps for games, or critical applications like banking or finance (times where people get nervous about what they are seeing). Take a note from mobile app development companies like Rovio, who developed Angry Birds. Instead of explanation they give a cool mini-video teaser as the backstory for the application.
If it is necessary to have paragraphs of information, try to make it the least intrusive. One explanatory paragraph before the user begins the function of the application. If further explanation is needed once in the application, try making info bubbles. These would be buttons for them to click on if they want more information, but won’t pop up until the user has need for them.
The same rule that applies with search results applies with content; you will probably lose many people after the first scroll, so keep it as brief as possible. If you find yourself writing too many of these, it might be time to reconsider the core function of the application. Think about it this way: if it requires too much backstory or explanation, it is probably too complicated for most users.
Does it fit in a button?
Now that question can be subjective depending on the size/need of a button, but if the text of your button requires two lines or more, you know the content might be too long. Use this as a litmus test to determine whether you are being too wordy or not.
Feel free to share your best practices when it comes to creation of content for mobile applications in the comment section, and follow up with our team if you are interested in mobile app development.
About Lisa Calkins
Lisa Calkins, Amadeus Consulting's CEO and Co-Founder, is also the Director of Creative Services. Lisa is dedicated to the infusion of creativity into every aspect of Amadeus Consulting, including our custom software application design.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- What is DuckDuckGo?
- What is CCTLD?
- Gulf Website Hub Reveals Fresh Digital Solutions to Enhance Dubai's Expanding Market.
- Embrace Multi Graphics Inc. Expands Services to Meet Growing Demand in Digital Marketing, Design, and Printing
- Website Development Trends in 2025
- Viewing Instagram Stories Without an Account: Imginn Viewer Insights
- How to Find, Use, and Manage BitLocker Recovery Keys on Windows 10/11
- Building a Professional Website on a Budget: Using Free Tools like WordPress and AI
- Ava Labs CEO On Why You Shouldn't Ignore Red Flags In The Industry
- Cyberbullying: Empowering Families to Safeguard Their Kids
- 10 Common Online Scams to Avoid: Protecting Your Identity and Finances
- Spring Break and Staying Secure Online: An Internet Safety Guide for College Students
- Unveiling the Future: The 10 Revolutionary Trends Shaping Small E-Commerce Businesses in 2024
- Unlocking Online Content with YouTube Video Downloaders
- Unleashing the Potential of Online Earning: A Comprehensive Guide
- Navigating Success in the Digital Realm: Unveiling the Power of Digital Marketing
- How AI Will Affect the Future of Search
- Maximizing Business Efficiency: The Strategic Role of Business Intelligence with DataInseyets
- Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI
- Harnessing the Power of AI & Blockchain for Data Security and Transparency
- AI Ignites 6G Advancements in Wireless Technology
- How AI is Revolutionizing Content Writing
- What You Need to Know About Writing Prompts
- The Remarkable Ways to Use the AI-Powered Chatbot
- Where Will AI Take Us in 2024?
- AI Written Content Creation Trends for 2024
- Will AI-Linked Cryptocurrency Sector Thrive in 2024?
- Is AI Regulation vs AI Deregulation a Real Concern?
- Prompt Engineering: A Beginner's Guide to Prompt Engineering
- Balancing Innovation and Regulation of AI in the Future