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Seamless Access strongly suggests to avoid moving the cognitive load to the user, of distinguishing between the most commonly used options and the less commonly used options.
❌ Common challenges
The following key challenges, are often on the article/content pages:
Multiple buttons have primary button styling, making it hard for users to find the primary access option.
Secondary or tertiary access options such as rental (used significantly less) are equally prominent as the primary access option.
Panels are often placed in many different locations between content providers/publishers, users have no consistent understanding where to find access options.
Access is often confused with account registration, and not clearly marked as “log-in”. Driving users to believe it will inherently give them access to the content item.
Special options such as logo’s of society branding and software tooling are marked next to options, potentially confusing users whom are not familiair with the brands and/or their relation to access.
No help channels are provided close to the context of access, leaving users with no resolution when they are unable to figure out access.
✅ Placement - Access panel
Users should be able to quickly find all access options, as users can often quickly assess if a content item is valuable to read - they will want to gain access as quickly as possible.
Place the institution access above the fold.
Group all institution access methods in one single area.
Avoid placing access options across several pages.
Avoid placing access options in a modal/overlay.
Do not give users a false sense of access (e.g. calling it Download PDF/View article).
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✅ Content item teaser - Access panel
Presenting a panel at the end of a “trimmed” or “behind pay-wall” type article, gives users the instant direction towards possible access methods.
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Group access options visually as clusters, this to reduce the need to go down a long list of seemingly similar access options.
✅ Content item sidebar - Access panel
Implementors may chose the sidebar as a way to gain access to the content item. This often comes with significant size restrictions, our suggestion limits the vertical height.
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