Do we (still) need to underline links in product listings ?

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Do we (still) need to underline links in product listings ? no underlined links, is cleaner site, but less clicks ? Rate Topic:

#1 bruyndoncx

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Posted 02 November 2009 - 03:11 AM

Do we (still) need to underline links in product listings? I mean in the middle of the content page, where people I think have gotten used to them pictures and/or texts being linked to the individual details.

No underlined links, is cleaner site, but will it have significantly less click throughs ?

Has anyone looked at this using e.g. google weboptimizer, or perhaps compared major successfull shopping sites ?
Just wondering if I should be trying this to have a less busy site layout ...

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#2 32 Degrees

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Posted 10 November 2009 - 07:20 PM

I have no evidence to support my opinion, however, I suggest removing the underline on load and only have it display on mouse over. This kills two birds with one stone.

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#3 burt

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Posted 17 November 2009 - 12:32 AM

I like links to be blue and underlined - in other words, not styled...I like textual links better than image links. I'm probably in the minority!

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#4 Ojibwa35

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Posted 17 November 2009 - 03:45 PM

bruyndoncx, on 02 November 2009 - 04:11 AM, said:

No underlined links, is cleaner site, but will it have significantly less click throughs ?

"Use standard icons and conventions wherever possible. For example, people recognize what a shopping cart is for and know that blue-underlined text means hyperlink. Leverage what they already know. Contradict it just to be "original" and you will lose sales"
CALL TO ACTION - Bryan & Jeffery Eisenberg

I agree with Burt on this (though I sometimes change the link colors). Function over form in this case.

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#5 djdeuce

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Posted 17 November 2009 - 04:32 PM

I prefer only showing underline on mouse over also. Whatever link convention you choose I think the site should be consistent throughout.

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#6 bruyndoncx

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Posted 17 November 2009 - 06:53 PM

I am reading the Eysenberg brothers, and other stuff, it is just that I feel (stress feel, not scientific proof) on catalog pages, blue links, or underlined all the time is overkill.
I'm gonna try (try, as I'm still learning ...) to set things up with google weboptimizer and see if there are significantly different results in clickthrough, time one site and sales ... to get to a properly founded decision either way ...