Let's consider a "follow" type feature where a user can follow other users.
The user lands on a page with a list of users they would potentially be interested in following. Like this:
Users you may want to follow:
-----------------------------
- user 1 [follow button]
- user 2 [follow button]
- user 3 [follow button]
- ...
When does it make sense to have a [follow all] button on the page that follows all the users listed?
Here's what I think, btu I have no data or research to back it up:
The follow action is a personal one for the user and creates a binding between them and another user on the site. And I believe it is important that this action is taken explicitly for every single person they follow. I think it will give more meaning to the action.
I think there is more to consider, for example:
- what if all the users listed are your facebook friends? There's more we can assume from your relationship with them in that case.
- what if we know that you and the users on that page worker together on a "project" (which is a feature offered by the site)?
From my perspective it is still important to have the user actually click on each follow button. A "follow all" action feels very similar to an automatic follow, which is very "disconnected".
Any opinions? Maybe some resources or examples?
UPDATE
I coincidentally just came across an example where I have to take the same action multiple times and I am not provided with a batch option.
HumbleBundle is a site that lets you buy packs of video games at a very deep discount (you can even just pay what you want). After you buy the games, you have the option of downloading them, or redeem them on Steam.
You get a list that looks like this:
You have to click on every single button to redeem all the games.
Maybe it's just me, but I love clicking those buttons, it is a very satisfying experience. I can't tell exactly why, but I think it's a use case where having a "redeem all" action would have the exact same end result, but something would be missing in the experience. Nothing critical, nothing that would make me not use the site, but maybe a little bit of the personality of the site.