A significant element of the previous iteration of my portfolio was the implementation of a chatbot, which aimed to streamline user navigation, provide insights into my work, and offer a convenient way to schedule interviews. This case study delves into the impact of the chatbot on user engagement and recruitment opportunities over a one-year period.
The purpose of this chatbot was to interact with users, provide them with the option of self-service and answer simple inquiries. This chatbot's main goal is to personalize my website's user experience and help recruiters book me for an interview directly. It aims to deliver relevant information effectively and at the right time.
Creating personas allowed for a deeper understanding of the target audience. Furthermore, it allowed for summarizing the initial search data, communicating it, and later reflecting on it.
Two personas were created for this case study each representing different pain points and a different
end-user.
The personas, Liana and Alex, represent a seasoned UX Design Lead and a motivated UX Director, respectively. Liana, with a strong background in leading design teams and driving organizational change, seeks portfolios that offer comprehensive case studies reflecting systemic problem-solving and human-centered design. Alex, an ambitious UX Director tasked with recruitment, values clear presentation, problem-solving mindset, and efficient review of portfolios. The chatbot aids Liana by streamlining case study access, aligning with her preferences for breadth and depth, while helping Alex quickly assess candidates' design approach and growth journeys, enhancing recruitment efficiency and decision-making.
The initial step in building the chatbot required a question and response flowchart to be created. The steps in the flowchart would help users to book me for an interview, to guide visitors to the right section and give character to my portfolio
Bob is a quirky chatbot that believes they are human and serve as my assistant. Their personality was developed to be friendly, positive, and knowledgeable. Bob is helpful, and encouraging and uses simple phrases and words. This tone of voice was developed in order to be clearer and more accessible for all visitors.
The Chatbot flowchart and persona were used to write scripts that greet visitors, help them navigate through the website, and encourage them to contact me. Simple principles guided the script writing and ensured the chatbot would :Greet visitorsIntroduce itself as a chatbotEncourage users to visit different sections of the websiteEncourage users to contact me and collect their details
To maintain optimal user engagement, a strategic approach was taken to ensure that users were not inundated with either lengthy blocks of text or an excessive number of short messages from the chatbot without the opportunity to respond. This careful balance was implemented to prevent overwhelming users with information overload, while also respecting their interaction pace and allowing them the space to engage in a natural and meaningful way. By avoiding the presentation of excessive content in a single instance, the chatbot aimed to create a more interactive and user-centric experience, promoting sustained engagement and fostering a positive interaction flow.
Data was collected and analyzed over a span of one year from the previous portfolio website. The study focused on user engagement metrics, traffic sources, and device usage to ascertain the effectiveness of the chatbot in achieving the outlined objectives.
User engagement metrics
Number of Users: The chatbot attracted a total of 110 users within the one-year timeframe.
Bounce Rate: The bounce rate saw a notable improvement, decreasing from 30.04% to 18.91%. This drop indicated that the chatbot effectively engaged users and encouraged them to explore the website further.
Page Depth: The page depth metric experienced an increase from 2.63 to 3.78, showcasing that users were navigating deeper into the content to learn more about me and my projects.
Time on Site: The average time spent on the site increased to 3.25 minutes, signifying that the chatbot contributed to holding users' attention and facilitating their engagement.
Internal Traffic Sources: Internal traffic sources remained consistent at 37%, indicating that the chatbot encouraged users to explore different sections of the website.
The integration of the chatbot in the previous portfolio website yielded substantial improvements in user engagement metrics and recruitment opportunities. Furthermore, the chatbot effectively complemented existing traffic sources, empowering users to engage through different entry points while maintaining a consistent user experience across devices. This case study underscores the positive impact of the chatbot in creating a more engaging and effective portfolio website for recruiters and UX leads.