How to Design Effective Tooltips
Tooltips are the unsung heroes of in-app guidance. When done well, they provide exactly the right information at the right moment. When done poorly, they clutter the interface and frustrate users. Here is how to get them right.
Identify tooltip opportunities
Add tooltips to complex UI elements, new features, and common confusion points. Check support tickets to find where users struggle most.
Write concise content
Keep tooltip text under 15 words. If you need more, consider a modal or help article instead.
Choose the right trigger
Use hover triggers for desktop and click/tap for mobile. Consider showing tooltips proactively for new or changed features.
Position tooltips intelligently
Place tooltips so they do not cover the element they describe. Auto-position to avoid being clipped by viewport edges.
Set appropriate frequency
Show educational tooltips once or until dismissed. Avoid showing the same tooltip every session as it trains users to ignore them.
Test tooltip impact
Measure whether tooltips actually reduce confusion. Track support tickets and feature adoption rates before and after adding tooltips.
Pro Tips
- Use consistent tooltip styling throughout your product for a cohesive experience.
- Include a "Got it" dismissal for persistent tooltips so users can remove them.
- Prioritize tooltips for new users; experienced users rarely need them.
- Link to full documentation for complex topics rather than cramming info into tooltips.
Conclusion
Great tooltips feel like a knowledgeable friend pointing things out at just the right moment. Keep them concise, targeted, and contextual, and they will significantly reduce user confusion without adding clutter to your interface.
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