Usability issue: Content in expandable tabs

Will users know they have to click to expand

[skuba]

I am doing a work for a company that has lading pages with the content separated in expandable tabs. To see each of the contents, the users need to click the topic title to expand it. Even though there is a graphic of a small arrow pointing down next to each topic, I still think there is no need for the xpandable tabs. The company says they did it that way so all content topics are shown above the fold.
But in my opinion it's better to have a long page showing all the content, than showing just topic title above the fold.

What do you think?
Let me know if you would like to see the actual page.

Thanks

[BlobFisk]

Hi skuba,

Sounds like an interesting approach and while it's hard to comment without seeing it in action (No URLs please! See the TOS [webmasterworld.com]!). I'm inclined to agree with you (and the KISS principle) that displaying the info in a scrolling page may be the way to go.

From a usability point of view if you are tied into this approach you need to make sure that the arrows that indicate that it's an expandable tab are prevelant and obvious. A mouseover effect will help and alt/title text. The important thing is to make it as obvious as possible to the user that this is an expandable tab. The shape of the tab and the arrows are the most important things.

HTH

[sonjay]

I've seen the sort of thing you're talking about -- and depending on how it's done visually, sometimes it's pretty obvious that it's "click to expand" and sometimes it's not. So you're right to be concerned.

BlobFisk said the shape of the tabs and arrows are most important. I think I would say not just the shape but their size, color, and placement are also important, along with the wording and visual display of the text. Everything on there must say to the user "Click to expand."

Have you considered just having all the content showing on the page, but with a list of anchor links at the top, so that the complete list of content topics is "above the fold"? That would address the concern expressed by the company *and* make it obvious to the user what's available.