Useability: It is so important.

Kevin Riley · 10-10-2008, 03:18 AM

I live in Japan, but English is my main language, so I use an English language OS. My browser displays in English, so if I want to go to a Japanese site I need to use my wife's computer. All well and fine, BUT ...

Some sites have upgraded their software to recognize where Internet users are coming from. They have done this to give the user a better experience, which is fine if it actually does that. However, since I'm located in Japan, they hit me with a Japanese version -- this becomes gobbledy-gook on my main computer.

No problem, if they give an alternate. You Tube at least allows me to select a flag, but they still insist on sending me Japanese e-mail. Other sites are impossible to use, as they don't provide a link to an English version. I have had to revert to using a proxy server at times.

THE BEST YET!

Today, I checked out a site. They automatically sent me to a Japanese version, but they left this note in plain view:

"Our software has detected that you live in Japan. For your convenience we have redirected you to our Japanese version.

"If our assumption was incorrect, please click your preferred language"

And they offered English, German, Spanish, Chinese ...

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER

I guess the lesson to learn here is, don't force things on the customer just because you assume they need it. Give them a choice.

John Taylor · 10-10-2008, 03:26 AM

Our software has detected that you are a hamster, please
waddle away from the computer and release Kevin from the
big wheel!

John

David_Thompson · 10-10-2008, 03:31 AM

Kevin, like you have English as my first language but I live in Sweden so I often get the Swedish version of most site but it isn't bad for me because I speak the language very well but I would rather be asked if I want to use the Swedish or English version and not someone else tell me I have to use this one....It's all BS

If a company isn't thinking about it's users experience then they are loosing ****loads of money anyway they look at it, a website isn't for the managers it's for the customers, plain and simple.

If the customer can't navigate or read what the hell they have up on the page how can they sell or get customer details...

--David

John Taylor · 10-10-2008, 03:35 AM

Kevin,

You're preaching to the converted, I've been encouraging
my clients to consider the needs of the visitor for years.

There are numerous reasons for considering usability but
the one that really clinches it for most people is when
they discover the real benefits of providing choices to
different user types.

For example, there are over 2 million visually impaired
people in the UK alone, that's a lot of people to exclude
from your sales funnel.

John

Kevin Riley · 10-10-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Thompson

Kevin, like you have English as my first language but I live in Sweden so I often get the Swedish version of most site but it isn't bad for me because I speak the language very well but I would rather be asked if I want to use the Swedish or English version and not someone else tell me I have to use this one....It's all BS

If a company isn't thinking about it's users experience then they are loosing ****loads of money anyway they look at it, a website isn't for the managers it's for the customers, plain and simple.

If the customer can't navigate or read what the hell they have up on the page how can they sell or get customer details...

--David

Yes. The big problem I get is that you must have your computer set to read Kanji, and my main one doesn't do that.

There is a great book out called "Don't Make Me Think". I forget the author, but it is a book all webmasters should read.

SuperAffiliatesWeapon · 10-10-2008, 03:44 AM

Wow, I never heard of this kind of problem before until I read this thread
today. Now I know that language is also a big key in doing internet
business.

Yea, customer's first. Without customer you will never be in business.
And maintaining good customer relationship is the key to long-term
business success.

This also apply in affiliate marketing.

Thanks for the sharing Kevin.

10-10-2008, 03:18 AM	#1
Kevin Riley Clockwork Hamster King War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beautiful Downtown Osaka, Japan just minutes away from all the Sushi, Okonomiyaki, and Izakayas Posts: 9,594 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 476 Thanked 1,667 Times in 577 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Useability: It is so important. I live in Japan, but English is my main language, so I use an English language OS. My browser displays in English, so if I want to go to a Japanese site I need to use my wife's computer. All well and fine, BUT ... Some sites have upgraded their software to recognize where Internet users are coming from. They have done this to give the user a better experience, which is fine if it actually does that. However, since I'm located in Japan, they hit me with a Japanese version -- this becomes gobbledy-gook on my main computer. No problem, if they give an alternate. You Tube at least allows me to select a flag, but they still insist on sending me Japanese e-mail. Other sites are impossible to use, as they don't provide a link to an English version. I have had to revert to using a proxy server at times. THE BEST YET! Today, I checked out a site. They automatically sent me to a Japanese version, but they left this note in plain view: "Our software has detected that you live in Japan. For your convenience we have redirected you to our Japanese version. "If our assumption was incorrect, please click your preferred language" And they offered English, German, Spanish, Chinese ... IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER I guess the lesson to learn here is, don't force things on the customer just because you assume they need it. Give them a choice.
	Kevin Riley, Product Creation Labs, Osaka, Japan Need targeted exposure? Need targeted traffic? Get your FREE ads today

10-10-2008, 03:26 AM	#2
John Taylor Recovering Millionaire War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Langholm, Scotland, United Kingdom. Posts: 10,049 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 1,214 Thanked 2,451 Times in 638 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Useability: It is so important. Our software has detected that you are a hamster, please waddle away from the computer and release Kevin from the big wheel! John
	Grab Your FREE Copy (No Opt-In) Of Choosing A Market - Volume One From Snoop Marketing.

10-10-2008, 03:31 AM	#3
David_Thompson Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden. Posts: 2,954 Thanks: 81 Thanked 82 Times in 61 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Useability: It is so important. Kevin, like you have English as my first language but I live in Sweden so I often get the Swedish version of most site but it isn't bad for me because I speak the language very well but I would rather be asked if I want to use the Swedish or English version and not someone else tell me I have to use this one....It's all BS If a company isn't thinking about it's users experience then they are loosing ****loads of money anyway they look at it, a website isn't for the managers it's for the customers, plain and simple. If the customer can't navigate or read what the hell they have up on the page how can they sell or get customer details... --David
	PaySnoop Coming Soon To A Place Near You

10-10-2008, 03:35 AM	#4
John Taylor Recovering Millionaire War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Langholm, Scotland, United Kingdom. Posts: 10,049 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 1,214 Thanked 2,451 Times in 638 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Useability: It is so important. Kevin, You're preaching to the converted, I've been encouraging my clients to consider the needs of the visitor for years. There are numerous reasons for considering usability but the one that really clinches it for most people is when they discover the real benefits of providing choices to different user types. For example, there are over 2 million visually impaired people in the UK alone, that's a lot of people to exclude from your sales funnel. John
	Grab Your FREE Copy (No Opt-In) Of Choosing A Market - Volume One From Snoop Marketing.

10-10-2008, 03:44 AM	#6
SuperAffiliatesWeapon Super Affiliate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somewhere On Earth Posts: 15 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Contact Info	Re: Useability: It is so important. Wow, I never heard of this kind of problem before until I read this thread today. Now I know that language is also a big key in doing internet business. Yea, customer's first. Without customer you will never be in business. And maintaining good customer relationship is the key to long-term business success. This also apply in affiliate marketing. Thanks for the sharing Kevin.