List Items: Product Info & Thumbnails Flashcards
Product Lists & Filtering
There are 3 implementation details to get right when including ratings averages in product lists.
Make sure that the star rating averages are large and highly visible
Show the average of the ratings in numerals
Explicitly state if there are no ratings for some products
What is a crucial detail to consider when displaying product ratings on a website, especially when there are no reviews?
It’s essential to ensure that the list item always includes a ratings summary, even in the absence of reviews. However, it’s equally important to avoid displaying the rating stars as grayed out or omitting them entirely, as this may give the impression that the product has a “zero-star” ratings average. Instead, it’s recommended to replace the graphics with a label clearly stating that there are no ratings available for the product.
What challenges do list items lacking information pose for users when browsing products on a website?
List items that lack information can present significant challenges for users. Without sufficient product attributes to differentiate them, users may struggle to adequately assess the products. This can lead to users missing out on otherwise relevant products or being compelled to engage in “pogo-sticking” between the product list and product pages. This process, characterized by switching back and forth between pages, is often tiresome and can result in frustration, ultimately causing test participants to abandon the site due to the excessive friction in locating relevant products.
How do category-specific attributes impact users’ experiences when browsing products on a website?
Category-specific attributes play a crucial role in users’ experiences when browsing products online. During testing, participants encountered issues with list items that lacked essential category-specific information. For instance, when browsing portable speakers, participants faced difficulties when battery life information was missing. Similarly, for laptops, the absence of details such as touchscreen functionality posed challenges. Despite common attributes like price, product title, user rating averages, and thumbnails being present in list items, the absence of category-specific attributes hindered users’ ability to make informed decisions about the products they were considering.
How do category-specific attributes, in conjunction with common attributes like price and product title, contribute to users’ browsing experience on a website?
Category-specific attributes, alongside common attributes such as price and product title, serve as vital “information scent” for users, helping them identify relevant products. These attributes also enable users to compare products across key features. By including pertinent category-specific attributes, users are provided with optimal conditions for evaluating items in the product list and deciding which products to explore further by visiting the product page. This comprehensive information empowers users to make informed decisions and enhances their overall browsing experience.
What is the recommended approach for determining the essential attributes to include in list items across different product categories?
The recommended approach involves reviewing each product category to identify 1–3 attributes that are absolutely vital for users to assess the relevance of a product. These attributes should be dynamically included in the relevant list items, regardless of the product type. While the task is straightforward in concept, it requires careful consideration and analysis to ensure that users are provided with the necessary information to make informed decisions during their browsing experience.
Can you provide examples of category-specific attributes that could serve as inspiration for determining essential product attributes to display in list items?
echnical Specs: For electronics or gadgets, key technical specifications such as processor speed, memory capacity, or camera resolution could be crucial for users to compare products effectively.
Dimensions and Capacities: In categories like furniture or appliances, dimensions (e.g., width, height, depth) and capacities (e.g., storage capacity for cabinets, load capacity for appliances) are essential attributes for users to assess suitability for their space or needs.
Attributes Conveying Appropriateness: For clothing or accessories, attributes like material composition, fit type, or weather suitability (e.g., waterproof, breathable) help users determine if the item is suitable for their intended use or preferences.
Attributes Conveying Suitability in a Given Context: In categories like sporting goods or outdoor equipment, attributes such as terrain compatibility, activity type (e.g., hiking, running), or skill level (e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced) provide valuable context for users to select products tailored to their specific needs or preferences.
Technical Specs
For some spec-heavy product types, certain specs are critical to the comparison and assessment process. For example, during testing with participants looking for laptops, screen size and hard disk capacity were of key importance. Another common decision factor is compatibility with other products — for example, when users are looking for laptop chargers. If those attributes aren’t included in list items, users will inevitably have to visit multiple product pages to find more information, slowing the product-finding process.
Dimensions and Capacities
Dimensions are a key piece of compatibility information. For instance, any kind of case or bag that has to contain, carry, store, or otherwise hold another product will often need to have its inner dimensions listed so users can determine whether their product will fit in it. Likewise, any product that has to fit in a specific room or space, such as a refrigerator, a bed, or a sofa, should have the key dimensions listed. Similarly, capacity — such as how much liquid a stockpot can contain — can be a key attribute for products like kitchen equipment.
Attributes Conveying Appropriateness
Attributes conveying appropriateness for audience or occasion can be important in industries where the user considering making a purchase typically isn’t the end user. In fact, such attributes can almost function as an integrated help guide, directing the user to products that will be suitable for their recipient or occasion, such as the suitable age range for toys or the type of flowers to buy for Mother’s Day.
Attributes Conveying Suitability in a Given Context
Another typical example of category-specific attributes are those for any product that must work in a special context and under certain conditions. These include safety gear, outdoors products, underwater equipment, and any type of product that has to perform in a special context. Without these attributes available in list items, users will be unable to fully judge product suitability.
What does it mean when a product has variations?
colors, size,
What are the two ways to display product variations in product lists?
- by combining variations in one list item, or
- by displaying variations in separate list items.
When variations are combined, the variations are often indicated using swatches below the list item thumbnail. When variations are displayed separately, each variation — for example, one shirt in different colors — is its own list item.
What are the core issues of displaying product variations as separate list items were observed in testing?
- It’s difficult to get an overview of product lists
- It’s difficult to locate all variations of products of interest
What is the core issue concerning product variations, and what advice should be followed to address this issue effectively?
The core issue with product variations is that users are likely to be overwhelmed if they are depicted as separate list items, which could lead to abandonment if suitable variations cannot be found. To address this issue effectively, it is advised to combine product variations into one list item and clearly show the number of variations available.
What role do product variations, such as color, play in browsing product lists, and how do they impact users’ likelihood of exploring products further?
Product variations, such as color, play a crucial role in browsing product lists as they provide users with choices that increase the likelihood of finding a suitable item. These variations encourage users to explore products further, as they offer options that cater to individual preferences and needs.
There are two ways to display product variations in product lists:
by combining variations in one list item, or
by displaying variations in separate list items.(bad)
Two specific issues with displaying product variations as separate list items were observed in testing:
It’s difficult to get an overview of product lists
It’s difficult to locate all variations of products of interest
What challenges arise when variations of products are listed as separate list items, and how does this affect users’ ability to navigate product lists effectively?
When variations of products are listed as separate list items, several challenges emerge. During testing, many participants became overwhelmed with the number of variations presented as separate items and found it difficult to determine the breadth of the product range. This approach leads to cluttered product lists, reducing the ratio of unique products. Consequently, users must spend more time scrolling through items to find unique products compared to when variations are combined. Moreover, if variations are not grouped together, users must continuously discern which products are different as they scroll through the list, further complicating navigation.
if users discard a particular product based on a variation, the other unwanted variations of that product in the list make it harder for them to find a product of interest. Such users will need to wade through repeated instances of unwanted items while looking for suitable products. And if a suitable product is pushed too far down the product list by variations of unwanted products, they may never see the suitable product and leave the site to seek it elsewhere.
The second issue with having variations of a product in multiple list items is that users who are interested in a particular product will have a harder time finding a variation they like. For example, if a user sees a dress she likes, but doesn’t like the red variation she sees at the top of the product list, she’ll need to hunt through the list to find a color that suits her needs, working out as she scrolls which items are variations of the item she likes and discarding list items showing other products.
How does combining variations in product list items address the challenges associated with separate list items for variations, and what steps should sites take to implement this approach effectively?
Combining variations in product list items resolves many issues users face with separate list items. By combining variations, product lists contain only unique products, making it easier for users to get an overview of available options and reducing the likelihood of overlooking a suitable variation. To implement this approach effectively, sites should ensure that variations are connected in the product database. Variations can then be combined on the site, with clear indications of the available options. For consistency, sites selling products from multiple vendors should post-process product data to link variations of unique products.
Why is it important to clearly indicate the number of variations when combining list items, and how can this information benefit users in making informed decisions?
Clear indication of the number of variations when combining list items is crucial for helping users make informed decisions. Without knowing the number of variations, users won’t be able to gauge the breadth of options available and may struggle to decide whether to visit the product details page for more information. For instance, a t-shirt with 20 color variations might be more appealing than one with only three variations because it increases the likelihood of finding a suitable color. Therefore, displaying the number of variations using swatches and text helps users understand the range of options and encourages engagement with the product.
What problems can arise when product variations are displayed as separate list items within a product list?
Users may find it more difficult to find products of interest
Users may have difficulty locating the specific product variation they are interested in
Users may think the product list is less diverse than it is
What is the core issue concerning users’ ability to compare similar items in product lists, and what advice should be followed to address this issue effectively?
The core issue is that if users can’t compare similar items when in product lists, they may need to detour to product pages to find missing information or risk missing out on suitable products. To address this issue effectively, it’s important to ensure that list items in the same product list always include the same information.
What problematic behavior did many participants exhibit during testing regarding product attributes in list items, and what are the implications of this behavior?
During testing, many participants dismissed items that didn’t display attributes present in other list items, even if those attributes were shown on product detail pages. This behavior is highly problematic because users are effectively excluding numerous perfectly relevant products simply because they can’t see a specific product attribute.
Why is it critical to ensure consistency in including the same attributes across list items within the same product list, and what benefit does this consistency offer to users?
Consistently including the same attributes across list items within the same product list is critical because it allows users to easily and quickly compare these attributes at a glance across multiple items. This consistency enables users to make informed decisions without needing to navigate to individual product detail pages. It’s important to emphasize that this principle applies specifically to list items within the same product list.
For information is unknown, there are two solutions: either don’t display the unknown information in any of the list items, or explicitly state the attribute’s unavailability for the products where it’s missing rather than hiding it altogether.
For information is unstructured, rigorous internal processing of data, as well as correct tagging, is needed.
For vendor-controlled descriptions, the solution is to keep tight control over the very limited information that is displayed in list items and not simply use vendor-supplied product summaries or highlights.
Which of the following are reasons that information may be inconsistently displayed across product list items?
The product vendor did not provide all of the important product information
Information is unavailable/unknown for certain products
Information is poorly structured or unstructured
What was the consequence of participants not knowing how many users had rated products, and how did this affect their perception of user ratings averages?
Without knowledge of how many users had rated products, a substantial number of participants distrusted the validity of user ratings averages.
What is another consequence of not displaying the number of ratings alongside ratings averages in the product list, and how does this affect users’ ability to differentiate between items with closely matched ratings averages?
Another consequence is that without showing the number of ratings alongside ratings averages in the product list, it becomes challenging for users to differentiate between items with closely matched ratings averages. For instance, if there are 10 items with ratings averages between 4 and 4.5, users can mentally rank them by comparing the number of ratings. However, without the number of ratings, the ratings averages become less useful in comparing the popularity of similarly rated products.
What negative impact does the absence of displaying the number of ratings in list items have on users’ decision-making process, and how does it affect their experience when visiting product pages?
The absence of displaying the number of ratings in list items negatively impacts users’ decision-making process by leaving them without critical information when deciding which products to explore further. Furthermore, users who visit product pages only to discover that high ratings averages were based on too few ratings to be reliable will feel like their trips have been a waste of time. This frustration could have been avoided if the number of ratings had been shown in list items.
What do the results indicate about the importance of displaying the number of ratings to users, and how does it impact their perception of product ratings and the credibility of the site?
The results indicate that users consider the number of ratings to be important and expect to see it alongside the average rating. Users use the ratings count to judge the reliability of product ratings, and high numbers of ratings positively influence their perception of the site’s credibility.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate amount of information to display for user ratings on a product list item?
a. 4-star average rating
b. 4-star average rating, 352 ratings
c. 352 ratings
b. 4-star average rating, 352 ratings
What is the core issue regarding price comparison, and what advice should be followed to address this issue effectively?
The core issue is that without the ability to compare prices accurately, users may miss out on the best prices or reject good-value items. To address this issue effectively, it is advised to display “Price Per Unit” in any product list where quantities vary across the list items. Additionally, consider implementing a “Price per Treatment” or similar metric for products that are of the same type but have different compositions.
What are the two important price points for multiquantity items, and why is it crucial to consider both when comparing prices?
For multiquantity items, the two important price points are the total package price and the “price per unit.” It’s crucial to consider both when comparing prices because while the total package price provides the overall cost, the price per unit allows for a more precise comparison between products of different quantities or sizes.
What difficulty did participants face when comparing items offered in different quantities or volumes, and only the total prices were displayed?
Participants found it needlessly difficult to determine which items offered the best value when comparing products offered in different quantities or volumes and only the total prices were displayed.
Why is it important for sites to calculate and display price per unit, particularly when users are comparing products with different quantities or volumes?
It’s crucial for sites to calculate and display price per unit to prevent users from prematurely ending their comparison process, which can lead to abandonments if users feel they aren’t able to make an informed decision.
How should the styling of the total price and the per-unit price be approached to ensure effective presentation in product lists?
The total price should be styled to stand out clearly, ensuring it catches users’ attention. Meanwhile, the per-unit price should be styled in a way that it doesn’t dominate the list item but remains easily findable by users who need it.
