"Instant. Netflix Instant."
The second people started joking about how easy it was to watch Netflix for hours, we were all doomed. Netflix may be brilliant at design, but they are also expert listeners. They listen to what people say about them and use it. They use it so well we blame ourselves for binge-watching when really, the browser is totally setting us up for failure the second we log in.
Now hear me out, I love Netflix just as much as the next person and would not want it gone. I would love to cuddle up with Netflix indefinitely and revel in all the bad horror movies, forever. But their browser is one hell of a clever design to keep people going for hours.
Now hear me out, I love Netflix just as much as the next person and would not want it gone. I would love to cuddle up with Netflix indefinitely and revel in all the bad horror movies, forever. But their browser is one hell of a clever design to keep people going for hours.
Initially when Netflix came out, the only really binge problem you reasonably had was when you’d be at the end of the episode and Netflix would suggest the next episode, which was a real struggle with long-lasting TV shows. But Netflix caught on how easy that was, to watch something of similarity over and over again. So after movies, they began recommending similar movies, to cleverly use proximity in a way to keep you and your mouse precariously close to the proximity of movies you'd likely enjoy. And on your dashboard they began suggesting movies you may like from previous ones you’ve rated or watched or genres you watched often. The recommendation technology behind Netflix is obnoxiously great, because it’s really easy to just keep on clicking on similar titles that sound interesting. The closer it is, the easier it is.
But beyond that beauty of a monster that is the recommendations, there is another thing they work really well and really hard on in their main site or a person’s account: the browser. The browser is worked really well and I’m pretty concerned/impressed at how well these people understand psychology.
The clever top bar of the browser often shows Netflix originals, new shows or movies on Netflix, long shows on Netflix (realize now how they really do want you to binge), and/or the obvious subliminal movie promoted by sponsor/supporter of Netflix. The top bar is large and, even if that initial viewing doesn’t get you to click on it, you do still think of it later because it was the first thing you see. When Orange is The New Black was new, it was all over that top bar and I didn’t watch it til years later but I totally knew what that initial advertisement looked like because it was everywhere and also the first and last things you see are always easier to remember, it’s a psychological fact. All I have to say is, well-played, Netflix.
I could go on for hours about the Netflix browser, the colors, the arrangement, the alignment, but I already covered some pretty big ones with the recommendation features and the top bar, so I won’t melt your minds too much longer on this one. My last parting thought I must say, though, is that its super interesting that most of Netflix’s browser and main site is mainly visual. You have to click on something to see and description and explanation. It just flabbergasts me how smart they are, because what other places just give you simple pictures of movies to go off of to get you interested in them? Movie theaters. When you walk into a movie theater, you always see all the movie posters and a simple title, and that is all that you have to get excited about a new movie coming out unless you want to seek it out and figure out what it’s about. It gives you a snippet of information to get you curious and look into it and maybe watch a trailer or read a little description. Movie posters make you want to learn and figure out if you want to watch something, and Netflix is all movie posters basically. A long repetition of movie posters. Endless ones that you can look at until you can handpick a couple and watch them that second. Mystery and intrigue gets a lot of people going, and Netflix gives them copious amounts. They use visual appeal and repetition very well in this instance.
I'm starting to wonder if the Netflix Company is one of those companies that could take over the world but just chooses not to.
...Yet.
The clever top bar of the browser often shows Netflix originals, new shows or movies on Netflix, long shows on Netflix (realize now how they really do want you to binge), and/or the obvious subliminal movie promoted by sponsor/supporter of Netflix. The top bar is large and, even if that initial viewing doesn’t get you to click on it, you do still think of it later because it was the first thing you see. When Orange is The New Black was new, it was all over that top bar and I didn’t watch it til years later but I totally knew what that initial advertisement looked like because it was everywhere and also the first and last things you see are always easier to remember, it’s a psychological fact. All I have to say is, well-played, Netflix.
I could go on for hours about the Netflix browser, the colors, the arrangement, the alignment, but I already covered some pretty big ones with the recommendation features and the top bar, so I won’t melt your minds too much longer on this one. My last parting thought I must say, though, is that its super interesting that most of Netflix’s browser and main site is mainly visual. You have to click on something to see and description and explanation. It just flabbergasts me how smart they are, because what other places just give you simple pictures of movies to go off of to get you interested in them? Movie theaters. When you walk into a movie theater, you always see all the movie posters and a simple title, and that is all that you have to get excited about a new movie coming out unless you want to seek it out and figure out what it’s about. It gives you a snippet of information to get you curious and look into it and maybe watch a trailer or read a little description. Movie posters make you want to learn and figure out if you want to watch something, and Netflix is all movie posters basically. A long repetition of movie posters. Endless ones that you can look at until you can handpick a couple and watch them that second. Mystery and intrigue gets a lot of people going, and Netflix gives them copious amounts. They use visual appeal and repetition very well in this instance.
I'm starting to wonder if the Netflix Company is one of those companies that could take over the world but just chooses not to.
...Yet.