At 16:22 -0500 on 2003-04-04, Kee Hinckley wrote:
At 1:56 PM -0500 4/4/03, Jeff Macdonald wrote:
On Sat, 2003-03-29 at 04:00, Kee Hinckley wrote:
Also, as has been pointed out to me offlist. Average users have
serious problems with the whole email confirmation process.
Where is the data to support this claim? Would a special confirmation
header that a mail client can key off of help make this easier?
The data comes from people who run large mailing lists, who report
large numbers of people unable to confirm their own subscriptions. I
believe Chuq was one specific person who has mentioned this problem.
I've never seen actual data. I've just seen anecdotal handwaving, most
(though not entirely all) of which is highly suspect due to the agenda of
the person whose hands are waving.
I've seen other anecdotal handwaving from more competent list managers
claiming near 100% confirmation rates. They credit the wording of their
subject lines and short bodies.
A real test capable of generating real data would include competently
written instructions in contrast to the more run of the mill
marketer-written ones.
You've got a damned if you do, damned if you don't problem. If you
spend enough time explaining the whole thing in email, the message is
too long for them to read.
I can't see a reason that a complete explanation for a "confirmation
required" message will be more than 3-4 sentences.
If you don't, some people don't get it.
A web interface (or mail client interface) allows you to do
successive disclosure. First the specifics. Then the details for
those who need it.
It's also a change of context, which by itself can focus user attention.
Richard
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