There is a UX problem with the button to post a comment on a story that I am sure is resulting in 30% or more of people who intend to leave a comment abandoning the effort.
The issue is that the call to action is both a button and a dropdown. The label says "Post as:" and then there is a dropdown that lets you select between (1) your username or (2) anonymous. That dropdown also serves as the button to submit the form. The issue is users are not trained to click on a dropdown to submit a form. The down arrow tells the user that this is about making a choice, not about submitting.
The fix is very simple - have a separate dropdown and submit button (that's labeled "Submit" or "Post").
I am positive you will to see a drop in overall comment volume if you look back at the date this UI change was deployed. I only mention it because I think comments are a strong form of currency that motivate authors on this site and it's a shame if many of those are lost to a usability confusion issue.
Respectfully,
Spyralout
The issue is that the call to action is both a button and a dropdown. The label says "Post as:" and then there is a dropdown that lets you select between (1) your username or (2) anonymous. That dropdown also serves as the button to submit the form. The issue is users are not trained to click on a dropdown to submit a form. The down arrow tells the user that this is about making a choice, not about submitting.
The fix is very simple - have a separate dropdown and submit button (that's labeled "Submit" or "Post").
I am positive you will to see a drop in overall comment volume if you look back at the date this UI change was deployed. I only mention it because I think comments are a strong form of currency that motivate authors on this site and it's a shame if many of those are lost to a usability confusion issue.
Respectfully,
Spyralout
