Hi Anthony, Does "Marketing" think that a potential customer in Zip Code X doesn't know anyone in Zip Code Y? Sounds to me as though they are dead-set on preventing prospects from recommending products to one another.
Of course they aren't, but that is one potentially significant effect of the pre-qualification they are proposing. Are they concerned that prospects might fall prey to the "grass is always greener" syndrome and not buy A because B looks cooler and they can't have it? Sounds like an opportunity to ask Cooper Design's critique question, "Why is that great?" (or whatever their question was along those lines) Peace, Doug Anderson Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN Opinions expressed are necessarily mine, not necessarily those of the Mayo Foundation. Original message: Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:43:14 -0800 From: Anthony Hempell <[email protected]> Subject: Using qualifying questions to create a semi-walled garden? To: Forum Interaction Design Ixda <[email protected]> Working on a marketing site for a consumer electronics service. Some customers can get product A; some can get product B; some can get both (due to geographic and technical limitations). There is no clear-cut single qualifying question, but probably 95% accuracy by postal code (zip code). Marketing is pushing for a qualifying question up front that will determine which product you are shown (i.e, you will not be shown the other product). We are pushing for an open site that will promote both products, and give the users the ability to choose, and do qualifying as the first step in ordering. The qualifying info may or may not be able to be stored in a persistent cookie; so the UX might be really awful if you come back and the site keeps asking you where you're from (plus other possible questions). Besides the argument of user control over system control, can you think of any other angles to try and sell this to the marketing folks? I'm certain that it will adversely affect the sales of both products if users have to continuously qualify themselves during the research and decision process. They are quite fixated on performing as much pre-qual up front. thanks Anthony ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
