Comments on: Is It Possible to Be Too Friendly? http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/ The usability blog of John S. Rhodes Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:45:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: JJ Ayers http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-241094 JJ Ayers Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:04:10 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-241094 I think that when you provide a service or product for the general public, they expect a professional form of communication. If instead a camaraderie format between friends or casual acquaintances discussing ideas is the format, then that is definitely the time for casual communication. In today’s times, you have to be careful about being too familiar with people you don’t know, much less changing a format on them. Some people would see a false sense of familiarity that preempts a request for money. I think that when you provide a service or product for the general public, they expect a professional form of communication. If instead a camaraderie format between friends or casual acquaintances discussing ideas is the format, then that is definitely the time for casual communication. In today’s times, you have to be careful about being too familiar with people you don’t know, much less changing a format on them. Some people would see a false sense of familiarity that preempts a request for money.

]]> By: MCW http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-236928 MCW Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:18:35 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-236928 My opinion - you are asking the wrong question, John. The message was too different. Didn't sound like you on the first pass. Friendly, not friendly wasn't the issue. You repackaged your "brand", i.e. communications style. I've seen other sites with styles from stiff to very casual and chatty, that's not so much the issue. Introduction of change can cause some reactions (good or not so good) in the target audience. Liked the link to the $300 Million button. Maybe because it confirmed to me that I wasn't alone in my behavior and wants (I just want to buy something, I don't want a relationship.) My opinion – you are asking the wrong question, John. The message was too different. Didn’t sound like you on the first pass. Friendly, not friendly wasn’t the issue. You repackaged your “brand”, i.e. communications style. I’ve seen other sites with styles from stiff to very casual and chatty, that’s not so much the issue. Introduction of change can cause some reactions (good or not so good) in the target audience.

Liked the link to the $300 Million button. Maybe because it confirmed to me that I wasn’t alone in my behavior and wants (I just want to buy something, I don’t want a relationship.)

]]> By: irina http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-236483 irina Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:49:54 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-236483 I subscribed a couple of weeks ago so the last newsletter was the first I received. I also thought it was spam because - of the repeated, caps "YOU" - it called me 'a trusted webword subscriber' - this is making me feel totally strange and think that the author doesn't know anything about me - it was about the author's stuff and questions and not giving anything back - the tinyurl didn't help either in building some trust (HTML emails anyone?) I gave it a chance though - after searching the name and remembering that indeed I subscribed hoping for some interesting content. Nothing so far :| I subscribed a couple of weeks ago so the last newsletter was the first I received. I also thought it was spam because
- of the repeated, caps “YOU”
- it called me ‘a trusted webword subscriber’ – this is making me feel totally strange and think that the author doesn’t know anything about me
- it was about the author’s stuff and questions and not giving anything back
- the tinyurl didn’t help either in building some trust (HTML emails anyone?)

I gave it a chance though – after searching the name and remembering that indeed I subscribed hoping for some interesting content. Nothing so far :|

]]> By: angelwatt http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-236179 angelwatt Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:31:20 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-236179 Well, of course the answer to those questions is very context specific. I think one thing to do though, is try to be consistent so people aren't thrown off and become suspicious. If you start casual then they'll recognize that throughout the messages. If you ever saw Dreamhost's monthly newsletter it sends out to customers, it's very casual and generally lacks professionalism. That's part of its charm though and is consistent from each newsletter so I know what to expect from reading it. It's generally comical yet also provides important updates about services. Well, of course the answer to those questions is very context specific. I think one thing to do though, is try to be consistent so people aren’t thrown off and become suspicious. If you start casual then they’ll recognize that throughout the messages. If you ever saw Dreamhost’s monthly newsletter it sends out to customers, it’s very casual and generally lacks professionalism. That’s part of its charm though and is consistent from each newsletter so I know what to expect from reading it. It’s generally comical yet also provides important updates about services.

]]> By: Spam | Is It Possible to Be Too Friendly? | Download Free Software http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-236142 Spam | Is It Possible to Be Too Friendly? | Download Free Software Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:08:18 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-236142 [...] Is It Possible to Be Too Friendly? [...] [...] Is It Possible to Be Too Friendly? [...]

]]> By: Daniel Szuc http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/comment-page-1/#comment-236138 Daniel Szuc Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:30:12 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2009/01/15/is-it-possible-to-be-too-friendly/#comment-236138 Be true to yourself JSR! Great work :) Be true to yourself JSR! Great work :)

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