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The 404 Test: Wildly Brilliant or User Suicide?

blog.dougpetkanics.com

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Re: The 404 Test: Wildly Brilliant or User Suicide?

#3
A solid idea, but why not spend 5 more minutes, make the link point to a page that says "Sorry, we're still working on [feature X]. Check back soon!" and avoid looking like an amateur?

Better yet, include a form on that landing page asking how important the feature would be to the user, and get the best of both worlds.

Re: The 404 Test: Wildly Brilliant or User Suicide?

#8

A solid idea, but why not spend 5 more minutes, make the link point to a page that says "Sorry, we're still working on [feature X]. Check back soon!" and avoid looking like an amateur? Better yet, include a form on that landing page asking how important the feature would be to the user, and get the best of both worlds.

I completely agree. It's much better to test for interest in the feature in the works with a page saying such.

Re: The 404 Test: Wildly Brilliant or User Suicide?

#9

A solid idea, but why not spend 5 more minutes, make the link point to a page that says "Sorry, we're still working on [feature X]. Check back soon!" and avoid looking like an amateur? Better yet, include a form on that landing page asking how important the feature would be to the user, and get the best of both worlds.

> make the link point to a page that says "Sorry, we're still working on [feature X]. Check back soon!" and avoid looking like an amateur?

You've officially missed the point of the article. The argument is not that you look like an amateur, but that the user thinks the problem is with their computer or ISP. Since most 404's are due to user error in URI entry, web filters or cross-site link rot, this is a reasonable assumption on the part of the user, an assumption that can be readily exploited.

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