The First Is A Lie

Lately, I've been hyper aware of the first choice in web drop down lists. Yes, yes, I need a hobby.

When unsubscribing from a bunch of mailing lists, I've found I lazily choose the first option for "Reason" when I'm asked. This goes back to me wanting a one-click subscribe but beyond that, I will also choose the first option.

If you are thinking about asking a question and not putting yourself out of business then think about what your first choice in a list is. Don't let it be your worst option, even if it is alphabetical.

Spam a Lot

If I attempt to unsubscribe from a email distribution and it is more difficult than two clicks, I will mark their email as spam. If you're implementing an unsubscribe mechanism for mass mailing then keep this in mind. Systems like gmail and other mail servers will start quarantining or marking all your mail as spam. This means that your valid subscribers may also miss your mail now.

One thing I've learnt about usability is that if I'm doing it then there are millions doing the same thing. Especially when it comes to exerting too much effort.