Linkedin User Trap

by Andreas Bossard on March 30, 2009 · 7 comments

in Web

Here’s another guest post from Andreas Bossard, who you may remember did a well-received post last year on the Sony Ericsson PC Suite. Thanks for contributing again Andreas! -Paul

- – - -

How fast things change. I wanted to write about a workflow in LinkedIn, which had annoyed me for months, but they have fixed it in the meantime, before I could publish the article. :) So anyhow, here is the article. -Andreas

One of the most used functions in Linkedin is to add a new user to your own network. If you don’t know the e-mail address of the person or other personal information you can choose “I don’t know xy”.

linkedin_invitation
Then the user can enter a personal message and click the “Send Invitation” button. Which opens the following message:

linkedin_popup

The only way to proceed is to click “Go back to xy’s profile”. The personal message is lost! You stepped into the Linkedin user trap.

Of course, according to the Linkedin policy you’re supposed to add only contacts you personally know, but since you can bypass this rule anyhow by selecting “Friend”, it’s illusory to educate the user by punishing him to re-enter a personal message.

There are two solutions to avoid this unpleasant interaction:
- A “Close”-Button instead of a “Go back to xy’s profile”-button
- Pop up the message immediately, when the user selects “I don’t know xy”, instead of giving him the feeling, that he now can enter a personal message for that person.

As we can see, they solved it with a “Cancel” link.

linkedind_popup_new

Tagged as: Bad Error Messages, Professional

  • http://www.mardahl.dk Karen

    Ah, one of my pet peeves. Also an example of how we humans adapt even in adverse situations. I always get into trouble here so I “lie”. Say I want to link up with someone I know in an organization – but they don't have that organization listed on their profile, or it is spelled differently that I have spelled it in my profile! I then say they are my friend. They may be a business acquaintance or someone I barely know, but who I do want to connect with. It irritates me to use the “wrong” entrance. If I recall correctly, the Other category presents new problems.
    And don't get me started on trying to connect two people in my own network. That always goes haywire and I end up introducing them by email!
    I ought to know better and try to document all this and present it to LinkedIn to help improve the interface, but I am always doing this sort of thing in a rush while checking mail in the morning, etc. Mea culpa! Maybe LinkedIn ought to hire a group of nice usability professionals and be done with it. ;)

    • http://www.newsofthefuture.net Andreas

      Exactly Karen, the “Other”-Selection requires an E-Mail-address whereas the Friend-Selection requires nothing, therefore the later is the easiest way to connect
      .
      Why should you document all this, it's not your job. As you state, usability-professionals could find out if it's really a good idea to put so many stumbling blocks in the way of the user. ;-)

  • Pingback: News of the future - Andreas Bossard

  • http://www.club-penguin.org/ Club Penguin

    I always get into trouble here so I “lie”. Say I want to link up with someone I know in an organization – but they don't have that organization listed on their profile, or it is spelled differently that I have spelled it in my profile! I then say they are my friend.

  • http://funfreekidsgames.weebly.com/ Kids Virtual World

    How annoying! I have a linkden but I never ever use it, probably cause irritating messages like this pop up.

  • http://comiccat.net/ comic book reviews

    s. Also an example of how we humans adapt even in adverse situations. I always get into trouble here so I “lie”. Say I want to link up with someone I know in an organization – but they don't have that organization listed on their profile, or it is spelled differently that I have spelled it in my profile! I then say they are my friend. They may be a business acquaintance or someone I barely know, but who I do want to connect with. It irritates me to use the “wrong” entrance. If I recall correctly, the Other category presents new problems.
    And don't get me started on trying to connect two people in my own network. That always goes haywire and I end up introducing them by email!
    I ought to know better and try to document all this and present it to LinkedIn to help improve the interface, but I am always doing

  • http://comiccat.net/ comic book reviews

    s. Also an example of how we humans adapt even in adverse situations. I always get into trouble here so I “lie”. Say I want to link up with someone I know in an organization – but they don't have that organization listed on their profile, or it is spelled differently that I have spelled it in my profile! I then say they are my friend. They may be a business acquaintance or someone I barely know, but who I do want to connect with. It irritates me to use the “wrong” entrance. If I recall correctly, the Other category presents new problems.
    And don't get me started on trying to connect two people in my own network. That always goes haywire and I end up introducing them by email!
    I ought to know better and try to document all this and present it to LinkedIn to help improve the interface, but I am always doing

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