Stupid defaults in web forms

One of the more important decisions in software application design is that user choices in forms should have default values, where possible, and those default values should be the most likely ones that most users would want chosen.

So why do some commercial websites still get this wrong?

For instance, all the following websites have the equivalent of “yes please, pester me with your stupid special offers and other useless stuff” enabled by default on their contact forms:

• Autodesk
• Careerbuilder
• Cinemaware
• Dstore
• Woolworths

Checkboxes and radiobuttons should always be set so they benefit the user, not the organisation. It should be up to your users to decide if they want to receive any additional corresponence from you.

Not you.

Posted in Business, Marketing, Rants, Usability, Web by Ivan