4 ms·

Great idea but 37signals' list is too long. It discourages you from actually reading the whole list.

by budu3 16y ago

wdewind 16y ago
Actually, I think that's the point. It's overwhelming how much you can do with it (ie: overwhelmingly awesome), but should you be looking for a specific keyword it's not super difficult to scan the list with your eyes.
jasonfried 16y ago
Fair point. I could have gotten carried away with it. The idea is more conceptual than finding that specific answer to your specific question, but it could probably work just as well as a shorter list.
- alabut 16y ago
  You can also make it easier to read by minimizing the repetitive parts and designing it to look more like a list by: * changing the "Yes" to "Yes you can:" * turning all the "Can I"'s to bullet points * removing the question marks.
- alexophile 16y ago
  I think the problem is not that the list is too long as much as that it jumps across categories, making it look like you were stretching to make it as long as it is. Some point out cool stuff you can do with Highrise, some are actual FAQ type questions on platforms and whatnot, and some are just hypothetical use cases. If you cut some of the latter and reform the rest into more general questions I think it could be really effective. (e.g. "Can I see a list of all the CEOs I know in San Francisco?", "Can I see a list of everyone I know in the 312 area code?" >> "Can I view groups of clients by contact info?" "Can I view lists of contacts with stacked filters") [edit:] Alternatively, you could make the list predominantly use cases.
- il 16y ago
  A classic copywriting trick for a long list of bullet points like this one is to make every other one bold. This greatly increases readability and conversions.
  - pbhjpbhj 16y ago
    >classic copywriting trick [...] make every other one bold. Doesn't it look like a definition list then though.
- poet 16y ago
  On the positive side, adding a yes to the bottom of the list as well as the top was a key refinement. I felt that was missing when I viewed the photo of the original and was pleasantly surprised when I scrolled down to see it added in your version.
  - tuhin 16y ago
    Exactly! I rushed to the bottom of the page to see if the Yes was there or not? Since after 10-11 items this becomes a game and the next instinct is to start from bottom. Also if someone actually read from the top all the way to the bottom, then the second YES is the gratification.
  - ja27 16y ago
    Right. I was looking to see if the second page was the "No" list.
- foobarbazetc 16y ago
  What's the difference between that and a big long list of features you've deemed important with ticks next to them, juxtaposed against random competitors without those ticks? See also: http://www.marco.org/380868888 http://www.marco.org/380868888
  - bjclark 16y ago
    Taste.
tuhin 16y ago
Why do you want to read the whole list to find the answer to your question? Ctrl/Cmd+F + "the most relevant word of your query"

Great idea but 37signals' list is too long. It discourages you from actually reading the whole list.

by budu3 16y ago

Great idea but 37signals' list is too long. It discourages you from actually reading the whole list.

Actually, I think that's the point. It's overwhelming how much you can do with it (ie: overwhelmingly awesome), but should you be looking for a specific keyword it's not super difficult to scan the list with your eyes.

jasonfried 16y ago

Fair point. I could have gotten carried away with it. The idea is more conceptual than finding that specific answer to your specific question, but it could probably work just as well as a shorter list.

alabut 16y ago
You can also make it easier to read by minimizing the repetitive parts and designing it to look more like a list by: * changing the "Yes" to "Yes you can:" * turning all the "Can I"'s to bullet points * removing the question marks.
alexophile 16y ago
I think the problem is not that the list is too long as much as that it jumps across categories, making it look like you were stretching to make it as long as it is. Some point out cool stuff you can do with Highrise, some are actual FAQ type questions on platforms and whatnot, and some are just hypothetical use cases. If you cut some of the latter and reform the rest into more general questions I think it could be really effective. (e.g. "Can I see a list of all the CEOs I know in San Francisco?", "Can I see a list of everyone I know in the 312 area code?" >> "Can I view groups of clients by contact info?" "Can I view lists of contacts with stacked filters") [edit:] Alternatively, you could make the list predominantly use cases.
il 16y ago
A classic copywriting trick for a long list of bullet points like this one is to make every other one bold. This greatly increases readability and conversions.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  >classic copywriting trick [...] make every other one bold. Doesn't it look like a definition list then though.
poet 16y ago
On the positive side, adding a yes to the bottom of the list as well as the top was a key refinement. I felt that was missing when I viewed the photo of the original and was pleasantly surprised when I scrolled down to see it added in your version.
- tuhin 16y ago
  Exactly! I rushed to the bottom of the page to see if the Yes was there or not? Since after 10-11 items this becomes a game and the next instinct is to start from bottom. Also if someone actually read from the top all the way to the bottom, then the second YES is the gratification.
- ja27 16y ago
  Right. I was looking to see if the second page was the "No" list.
foobarbazetc 16y ago
What's the difference between that and a big long list of features you've deemed important with ticks next to them, juxtaposed against random competitors without those ticks? See also: http://www.marco.org/380868888 http://www.marco.org/380868888
- bjclark 16y ago
  Taste.

tuhin 16y ago

Why do you want to read the whole list to find the answer to your question? Ctrl/Cmd+F + "the most relevant word of your query"