It Can Pay to Have More Than One Way
Websites use a variety of methods to allow visitors to get a larger view of a product. In many situations, a text link is provided directly below a photograph of the product. The link typically opens a new, separate window displaying a larger product photo to help visitors determine if the product will meet their needs. When a site does not provide a text link or graphical icon indicating zoom or enlarge, visitors typically click directly on the photograph assuming that will open a new window displaying the larger view. Below are three examples from major e-commerce sites with three different approaches to allowing visitors to enlarge a view. The first example provides a magnifying glass icon along with the text ‘View Larger Image’. Visitors may click this link and a new, separate window will display. However, if the visitor clicks directly on the product’s photograph, nothing happens.
To improve the usability of this functionality, the site should provide a second way of displaying the enlarged view window by allowing visitors to click the image. And, the ‘View Larger Image’ text should be underlined to confirm the text is clickable.
The second example provides an icon along with the text ‘Click image to enlarge it’. This text is purely instructional because it is not hyperlinked. The site works in this manner because it provides multiple views of the product, however; visitors may not read it as instructional text and click it because they notice the plus sign icon and the word “enlarge”.
The third example is the best in terms of usability, because it provides two mechanisms for enlarging a view. First, a magnifying glass icon along with ‘Zoom/Larger View’ link is displayed below the product’s photograph. Second, the site allows the visitor to click directly on any of the product images to get a larger view. The only improvement this site could make is underlining the text ‘Zoom/Larger View’ to better indicate it is clickable.
Stacey Kirkpatrick
Usability Team Leader
