Smart UX writing is effective at improving user experience. But it can hurt your brand if it’s not well-intentioned. Some merchants are embracing Dark Patterns to manipulate users, knowingly and intentionally. Even giants like Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google use them! Here’s why you shouldn’t.
Consumers are demanding change now more than ever. If they’re unhappy, they will act on it. Accenture’s global survey of more than 30,000 consumers found that 37% of them are ready to walk away from brands in frustration. A whopping 25% of them will never consider returning once they left.
"A dark pattern is a deceptive piece of
interface design, designed to trick users into
doing things they wouldn’t normally do."
Consumers expect companies to be relevant, useful, and entertaining. Yet, at the same time, they have to be authentic, real, and ethical. It’s not impossible, but it IS incompatible with the short-term goal culture that most companies have.
The switch from product to customer-centric communication is accelerating. Sometimes, however, companies too eager to attract customers in innovative ways end up obtaining the complete opposite effect, alienating them.
"Dark patterns can be subtle,
but they can also be overly aggressive.
They can be the unintentional result of bad design."
Dark patterns are deceptive pieces of interface design, created to trick users into doing things they wouldn’t normally do. They often employ visual tricks and psychological techniques into their presentation to fool unwary consumers. Harry Brignull coined the term in 2010, and since then, he’s been investigating and registering uses of dark patterns in darkpatterns.org.
These are the 12 most common types of Dark Patterns:
Dark patterns can be subtle, but they can also be overly aggressive. They can be the unintentional result of bad design. Alternatively, companies can explicitly create them to trick consumers and corner them into making decisions out of their usual journeys. But the question is, how far is too far?
So, how Do Dark Patterns Work?
It’s so simple; it’s scary. Website and app users don’t often read every word on a page. When they skim or make assumptions, it’s pretty easy to trick them with simple elements like color changes or confusing language.
In June 2019, academics and politicians started meeting on the US Capitol to discuss dark patterns. It’s illegal for US companies to deceive shoppers, but dark patterns enter a gray area because they are more subtle. The hope is that soon there will be a new bill regulating these practices
Researchers at Princeton University investigated over 10,000 sites. They found more than 1,200 eCommerce websites that manipulate customers using fake customer testimonials, shaming customers who try to leave, and running a meaningless countdown clock.
The 4 Reasons to stop using dark Patterns in eCommerce
We should steer clear of dark patterns in eCommerce websites and the potential vicious cycle they can create. They’re a thing of the past. Sites that use dark patterns are out of touch with the reality of what consumers look for in a brand.
1. They violate customer trust
Let’s face it. For shoppers, your site’s security isn’t measured by the quality of your infrastructure, but by your integrity. Dark patterns leave consumers feeling frustrated and betrayed.
Deceptive advertising has high potential to destroy the relationships you’ve built with your customers, which means they won’t do business with you again. Users are not dumb. Once they realize what you did, it will take you a lot of effort to gain their trust back.
2. They hurt your reputation
A dissatisfied customer is much more likely to leave a bad review than a satisfied customer a good one. If potential customers see too many negative reviews about your deceptive marketing practices, they will not buy from you. Your business’s health could take a hit, as well as your profitability.
3. They open up your customers to unexpected data breaches
With issues like Cambridge Analytica and numerous social media data breaches, the average consumer is now much more focused on protecting their data online. If world banking institutions aren’t safe from hackers, neither is your eCommerce business.
By dishonestly soliciting information from your customers, you open them up to data theft without their knowledge, preventing them from being proactive participants in their digital footprint.
4. They create a dishonest corporate culture
Employing deceptive advertising practices on your site also affects your employees. If employees see that you are willing to use dishonest business practices to drive profits, they may follow suit. Dark patterns can create a culture of deceptiveness at your company, opening you up to rot from within.
In conclusion
It’s one thing to be informal. It’s another to be sneaky. And while companies might benefit from dark patterns in very short-term periods, their businesses become less and less sustainable. It becomes a vicious cycle.
You can’t design reliability. But honest design can help build it. So please don’t use copy and UX design to scare, confuse, or mislead users. Make sure your copies are authentic, transparent, brand-specific, and fit into the context. To learn more about UX writing and how to prevent dark patterns in your SuiteCommerce business, contact us!
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