As a web designer, you would have heard this term“gamification” everywhere you go. When people hear gamification for the first time, they assume it has something to do with video games, which is true. However, you shouldn’t confuse gamification with video game design as only a few aspects are similar between the two.
How do high scores, missions, and graphics have anything to do with web design? In fact, if you incorporate these elements, it may not improve the user experience in your web design. Then what exactly is gamification?
Gamification is the utilization of game mechanics in areas which are not related to games, to improve user engagement and flow. If you pull off gamification in your web design correctly, you will improve user engagement significantly. At the same time, you will see an improvement in user conversion, making your web design a smash hit among all your visitors. All of this sounds enticing, so how do you incorporate gamification into your web design to improve user experience? Here are four different ways you can go about it!
Accomplishments
It is in our nature to give it everything we have when there is a reward at stake. As a result of this, it will improve our focus as we want to complete the task at hand without any hassles. When you look at video games, you will see that the users get rewards for completing specific tasks. For example, if a user defeats the boss in a certain level, he/she gets powerful items and a large number of experience points.
Similarly, you can use the accomplishment system in your web design. The advantage of using this is that it motivates your users to complete the given tasks. Also, they will feel rewarded upon getting recognized for their efforts. For example, you can apply this system to the sign-up process. You can reward the user for providing additional details to complete their profile on your website. The rewards can range from medals to discounts, which will motivate your users to sign up for your services.
Easter Eggs
Easter eggs are minute details that developers add as they want the users to have fun. For example, when you type, “do a barrel roll”on Google, the website performs the action immediately. Similarly, YouTube also had an easter egg where you could play Snake as you wait for the video to load.These details may be small, but they make the user experience of your web design enjoyable.
There are many ways you can use easter eggs to improve the user experience. One way to go about it is to hide an easter egg on the 404page. Although you don’t want your users to encounter the 404 page when they are on your website, it is always better to prepare for the worst. You can embed a video on this part of your web design so that your users are in a good mood, despite running into the 404 page. You can also take inspiration from Google Chrome which has a mini-game when users don’t have access to an internet connection.
Educating step-by-step
When you educate your users step-by-step, it will teach them how to use your web design efficiently and effectively. You can implement this technique in your web design by breaking down the learning procedure into several levels. Users will have access to the next level, only after completing all the tasks in the previous one.
You will find this technique most useful in the onboarding process. For example, let’s say that you are running an e-commerce website. You can break down the on boarding process into different levels. First, the user must enter all the personal information, after which they must adda product to the shopping cart. Then, you can show them how to complete the purchase by entering their address and payment details.
Helpful and constructive feedback
If you have played video games before, you would have seen helpful and constructive feedback when you perform the wrong action. The reason why developers added this aspect into games, is to help users when they run into roadblocks, which prevents them from progressing. You can also use this element in your web design to improve the user experience.
For example, take a look at Google. Even if you type the wrong name, the search engine will show you the right results. There will be a “did you mean” below the search bar, which helps you correct your mistake. Similarly, when users use the search function in your web design, you can use provide helpful feedback. Also, if your users haven’t performed any action after visiting your website, you send a message, asking them if they want help.
These are the four ways you can use gamification in your web design to improve user experience!
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