The psychology on how to give your users control when browsing your website.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Since the beginning of time, humans have always wanted to be in control of their environment. When we don't have control on something, we become insecure and stressed out. Whether it's when we were cavemen and would here strange noises, or a phone that doesn't stop ringing when you're trying to work, loss of control is a source of tension.

Regarding web design, the feeling of not being in control can come in many forms. For example, if you're on a website and, all of a sudden, a video with sound starts automatically, it creates discomfort, which causes him to try and stop that source of discomfort by pausing the video. Studies have been made that show that once a video has been put on pause, visitors rarely come back to play it. So you're better off just displaying your video WITHOUT having it play automatically. You'll have better results that way!

Another aspect of web browsing that can give a user the feeling of losing control is the absence of static menus while scrolling. If a user is reading an article and isn't able to continue browsing without having to search for your menu, you've just given him the feeling of not being in control.  So you must make sure your main menu remains visible, even when you scroll down your page.

By following these tips, you'll be offering your clients a high performance, and most importantly, appreciated website.