Usability improvement: Clearer language in e-mail sent to new accounts
I recently created the following text for new accounts on a site I'm building. I think makes things a little easier to understand by breaking the e-mail into sections (formatted with plain text). It's especially geared to users who may be new to registering to online communities. If people like this, I'll roll it into a patch: %username, *************************************************** Please follow these easy instructions and save or print out this e-mail for future reference. *************************************************** A site administrator at the %site web site has created an account for you: username: "%username" (no quotes, with spaces, if any) password: %password INSTANTLY LOG IN NOW AND CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ============================================== Log in now by clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it into your browser's address bar: %login_url IMPORTANT: This link above expires after the first time you use it. Trying to use this link to log in a second time will not work. The link above will take you to %edit_uri. We highly recommend changing your password here to one that you can remember. Simply type in your new password twice into the "Password" fields provided on the form and then click "Submit" at the very bottom of the page. See the tips at the bottom of this e-mail for tips on choosing a secure password. EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT SETTINGS ========================== Other settings are available %edit_uri that allow you to contol your identity and how you interact with our online community. To help establish yourself, we strongly encourage you to look over these options and change them as you see fit. You can always change them later at any time. HOW TO LOG IN LATER =================== To log in to the site at any time in the future, visit %login_uri to log in. There you will type in your username and password. Please bookmark this login page in your browser for quick reference. FORGOT YOUR USERNAME OR PASSWORD? ================================= Don't panic. It's painless to get another one by visiting %login_uri and following the instructions on the "request new password" link. NOTE: The only way to recover from a lost password is to have a new password assigned to you. No person, not even the person who controls the site, has the ability to look up your old password. It is encrypted and not readable by humans. THANKS! ======= We thank you for helping build the power fo working people! -- %site team SECURE PASSWORD TIPS: Passwords should be at least 6 characters in length, contain no words you'd find in a dictionary, and be a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and even punctuation marks. -- Dondley Communications http://www.dondleycommunications.com Communicate or Die: American Labor Unions and the Internet http://www.communicateordie.com
+1 Much clearer. On 19 Apr 2006, at 04:52, Steve Dondley wrote:
I recently created the following text for new accounts on a site I'm building. I think makes things a little easier to understand by breaking the e-mail into sections (formatted with plain text). It's especially geared to users who may be new to registering to online communities.
If people like this, I'll roll it into a patch:
%username,
*************************************************** Please follow these easy instructions and save or print out this e-mail for future reference. ***************************************************
A site administrator at the %site web site has created an account for you:
username: "%username" (no quotes, with spaces, if any) password: %password
INSTANTLY LOG IN NOW AND CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ============================================== Log in now by clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it into your browser's address bar:
%login_url
IMPORTANT: This link above expires after the first time you use it. Trying to use this link to log in a second time will not work.
The link above will take you to %edit_uri. We highly recommend changing your password here to one that you can remember. Simply type in your new password twice into the "Password" fields provided on the form and then click "Submit" at the very bottom of the page. See the tips at the bottom of this e-mail for tips on choosing a secure password.
EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT SETTINGS ========================== Other settings are available %edit_uri that allow you to contol your identity and how you interact with our online community. To help establish yourself, we strongly encourage you to look over these options and change them as you see fit. You can always change them later at any time.
HOW TO LOG IN LATER =================== To log in to the site at any time in the future, visit %login_uri to log in. There you will type in your username and password.
Please bookmark this login page in your browser for quick reference.
FORGOT YOUR USERNAME OR PASSWORD? ================================= Don't panic. It's painless to get another one by visiting %login_uri and following the instructions on the "request new password" link.
NOTE: The only way to recover from a lost password is to have a new password assigned to you. No person, not even the person who controls the site, has the ability to look up your old password. It is encrypted and not readable by humans.
THANKS! ======= We thank you for helping build the power fo working people!
-- %site team
SECURE PASSWORD TIPS: Passwords should be at least 6 characters in length, contain no words you'd find in a dictionary, and be a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and even punctuation marks.
-- Dondley Communications http://www.dondleycommunications.com
Communicate or Die: American Labor Unions and the Internet http://www.communicateordie.com
We thank you for helping build the power fo working people!
Actually, I like everything but this line. It seems to have a narrow focus. Should the documentation team consider this revised email? Nic
Actually, I like everything but this line. It seems to have a narrow focus.
Yes, that was an oversite on my part I will change that last line. I've found a couple of other typos/and wordy stuff that I will fix.
Should the documentation team consider this revised email?
I will roll a patch and send a note to that mailing list.
Nic
-- Dondley Communications http://www.dondleycommunications.com Communicate or Die: American Labor Unions and the Internet http://www.communicateordie.com
participants (4)
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Nic Ivy -
Robert Castelo -
Steve Dondley -
Tobias Maier