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95% of users hate po-ups, 69% use pop-up blockers

Usability guru Jakob Nielsen presents findings of research done by Yahoo! and eBay in regards to the most common site annoynaces.
Written by ZDNET Editors, Contributor

Usability guru Jakob Nielsen presents findings of research done by Yahoo! and eBay in regards to the most common site annoynaces. It's hardly a surprise that pop-ups, slowness and various gimmicks to enforce users clicking on the ads rated at the top of the annoyances list.

Design Element Users Answering
"Very Negatively"
or "Negatively"
Pops-up in front of your window 95%
Loads slowly 94%
Tries to trick you into clicking on it 94%
Does not have a "Close" button 93%
Covers what you are trying to see 93%
Doesn't say what it is for 92%
Moves content around 92%
Occupies most of the page 90%
Blinks on and off 87%
Floats across the screen 79%
Automatically plays sound 79%
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
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