Nielsen Norman Group proposed the following best practices for reporting bugs back in 2001 - and they still work:
A visible and noticeable message regarding both the error text itself and the element that needs to be corrected.
Save your users' energy. Ask them to correct only the error itself — don't make them fill out the form again. When displaying search results, show a window with the original search query to simplify the process. If no matches are found, the user will only need to expand the already prepared search query.
Reduce the work of error correction. If possible, present the user with possible correct options and ask them to select the correct one from a list. For example, instead of simply writing "City and ZIP code do not match," allow the user to click on a button with the name of the city that matches the entered ZIP code.
5 Tips for Creating Your Next Lead Form
The 4H Rule
UXMas has a useful rule regarding error messages that they call the "4Hs". According to this rule, an error message should be:
Human
Helpful
Funny (Humorous)
Simple (Humble)
1. Human
UXMas says that the number one rule is to “make sure the error message sounds like it’s happening in a conversation between two people.” Here’s an example of a bad error message that doesn’t follow this rule:
The 4H Rule
"Error! Not authorized"
It sounds like it was written by a robot. Also, you should malaysia phone number data avoid jargon, too technical language (unless your audience is technical, of course). For example, what does this mean?
The 4H Rule
2. Useful
Three factors make the error message useful:
Is it noticeable?
Does it explain what went wrong?
Does it help the user to correct the error?
We've talked about this before: place your messages in intuitive places, make them bright and noticeable enough, explain the problem clearly and offer a solution.
3. Funny
According to UXMas, “a trusting and light tone of voice makes the user feel like they’re on your side – especially if it’s in line with your brand’s policies.”
However, humor should be used in the context of your audience: it can either confuse the user even more, or it can backfire. 404 error pages are a great place to use light humor (and strategically redirect to another page).