Comments on: Every Click Counts

By: Janko Bosch

Janko Bosch — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:26:00 +0000

The problem with the click rule has always been trying to reduce the clicks for the sake of the ‘rule’ to a number that doesn’t work. Navigation should be simple but not be over simplified. For mobile we shouldn’t fall in that trap again. Long lists of menu items are indeed not a pleasant experience. It’s up to us to find new ways to navigate (on mobile).

I agree on the page load time being the bigger issue here. The two go hand in hand.

By: Paul Boag

Paul Boag — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:36:00 +0000

You are spot on to talk about mobile. I should have mentioned that in my post. Mobile is a great example of why we should still think about the number of clicks.

That said, I think page load time is the bigger issue. Reducing the number of clicks can create its own problems on mobile because it leads to a flat IA with long lists of menu items that users have to scroll through.

By: Lawrence Smith

Lawrence Smith — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:58:00 +0000

Smart architecture always wins, but in my mind and experience, we shouldn’t obsess with “fewer clicks”. We should obsess with getting to the right information. Even on my phone I’d click 5 times to get the info I want …

By: Teddy Zetterlund

Teddy Zetterlund — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:52:00 +0000

I would argue that we’ve moved past the age of broadband, on to the age of mobile if you will, which once again adds an extra dimension to clicks (mainly page loads) when your connection might not be super fast and you’re on the move.

Enjoyed the article, and the podcast feature made me subscribe. It was a lot of fun listening to the article while watching your grimace on the left side.

By: Antony McEvoy

Antony McEvoy — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:39:00 +0000

The fewest clicks seems the most sensible approach, get the user to the info they need in the quickest way possible but depending circumstances/level of complexity of the app/site it may be advantageous to UX to add additional clicks to present info a more in a more easily digestible way

By: Janko Bosch

Janko Bosch — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:32:00 +0000

I think the click issue mentioned has never gone out of fashion.

But I would like to add waiting for a page to load after a click is very relevant again with mobile. I don’t know about the UK but in the Netherlands loading times of 10 seconds are regular. So every click counts not just for apps.

By: Paul Boag

Paul Boag — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 05:14:00 +0000

BTW, If you have stories of painful interfaces due to unnecessary steps then please post them. Its interesting to hear.