The term 'methodical visitor is derived from Myer-briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which provides insight into various types of people. The methodical person is most common, followed by the spontaneous, the humanistic and the competitive. In this article, we take a closer look at characteristics of the methodical person.
Methodical visitor: sensory information intake
Our interaction designer Ivo is one of those typical methodical visitors. The MBTI trait 'sensing' is dominant in him. This means that he takes in the information he needs to make a decision in a sensory way. Smelling, hearing, feeling, seeing and listening are therefore important.
Summaries, tables and diagrams on your site will therefore help Ivo in his decision-making process. In addition, Ivo likes to see the operation of a product or a demonstration in, for example, a video or with pictures.
With listings, tables and videos, Ivo is all about the specific information found therein. This is in contrast to the spontaneous visitor, who is also sensory-minded and likes to see a table or a movie, but takes it more as an abstract whole. The overall picture is more important to him than the specific information in the picture.
Example: Kieskeurig.co.uk
The Kieskeurig.nl website is ideal for the methodical visitor. Lots of specifications, extensive comparison functions and offers from multiple providers made transparent. And, as a nail in the coffin, extensive ratings at product feature level.
Methodical visitor: making an informed choice
'Judging' is the methodical visitor's second MBTI dimension. As a result, Ivo has a planned, organised attitude to life and likes things to be tangible. He is serious and time-conscious and likes to complete a project. He makes his decisions deliberately based on ratio.
Whereas a spontaneous visitor likes flexibility, risk and likes to leave things open ('perceiving'), Ivo, as a methodical visitor, carefully weighs up all the pros and cons, takes no risks and is somewhat sceptical about the things that can go wrong. Ivo wants to know what he is buying and avoid a mis-buy.
Therefore, let him know on your site how your product or service will solve his problem and what is all included in his purchase. Take him through the (ordering) process step by step and make sure he can adjust things in between. Be aware that he often reads reviews, both positive and negative.
Ivo is not going to decide right away, so give him a free trial or a free download first. Moreover, you would do well to communicate things in concrete terms, in a plan and with figures, such as "the nine-point guarantee plan", or "in three steps to...".
Just a few more tips
Know your facts. And communicate them in graphs or tables.
Tell why you are the best choice.
Show evidence and guarantees.
Offer a free trial or downloadable version.
Do not make mistakes during the process, every step is important to Ivo.
The methodical user: working by the rules
David Keirsey calls the methodical visitor the 'guardian'. Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria and President Harry Truman are mentioned in the video below as symbols of this type of person. The guardian is often comfortable with authority and rules and abides by them.
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