4 UX Patterns I Fixed at 50+ B2B SaaS Companies (You Can Too)
The Four Most Neglected UX Patterns in SaaS
Introduction to UX Patterns
- Diane, the founder of a design project with experience at Crocs and Mercedes-Benz, discusses four neglected UX patterns in SaaS that can be easily fixed using AI.
- These patterns are crucial for improving user experience and can be addressed quickly, often within an hour.
Pattern One: Meaningful Empty States
- Users often encounter blank screens or forms without guidance when starting new features, leading to confusion about how to proceed.
- Slack's improvement in onboarding channels illustrates the importance of providing templates and examples to reduce user abandonment rates by 60%.
- Quick fixes include adding example text in form fields (e.g., "Johnny Apple Seed") and creating visual hierarchies to guide users on what actions to take first.
- Utilizing AI can help generate concise empty state messages, enhancing user understanding without needing extensive design resources.
Pattern Two: Undo and Bulk Operations
- Many SaaS products fail to accommodate bulk operations effectively; users struggle with repetitive tasks due to hidden functionalities.
- Gmail's interface is contrasted with Asana’s more intuitive bulk editing options that make actions clear and accessible.
- Implementing checkboxes for selecting multiple items simplifies user interactions, while providing undo options alleviates anxiety over making irreversible changes.
- Complex bulk operations may require designer input for thoughtful implementation of various options available to users.
Pattern Three: Endline Contextual Help
- Complex content in SaaS products necessitates contextual help; AWS exemplifies poor navigation between help pages and main interfaces.
- Adding info icons or expandable sections directly on the page provides immediate assistance, reducing support tickets by 25%.
- Smart placeholder text enhances clarity by specifying where users can find necessary information (e.g., API key settings).
Pattern Four: Clear Error Recovery
- Users frequently face confusion during error states; effective recovery strategies involve providing detailed information on resolving issues.
Error Messaging and User Experience
Importance of Clear Error Messaging
- Clear error messaging is crucial for user experience, as it helps users understand the context of errors, potentially reducing support tickets by 30% and minimizing frustration that can lead to churn.
- Common examples include form validation errors; for instance, if a required field like "name" is left empty, the message should clearly state "error: name field not entered."
- In cases of API failures, simply communicating that an API failure occurred prevents users from feeling confused about their actions.
- The formula for effective error communication includes three components: what went wrong, why it happened, and how to fix it. AI can assist in generating these messages based on this structure.
- When multiple errors occur on a page, involving a designer may be necessary to create a more user-friendly way of presenting these issues rather than overwhelming users with bulk error messages.
Low-Hanging Fruit UX Patterns
- Four key UX patterns are highlighted as easy improvements:
- Meaningful empty states
- Undo and bulk operations
- Inline contextual help for clear error recovery
- A challenge is presented to audit your product for one of these patterns, identify the worst example, and implement fixes—potentially achievable within hours using AI tools.