Related content suggestions
Related content suggestions are recommendations for additional content or resources that are relevant to what the user is currently viewing or interacting with. This pattern helps users discover new, relevant information and can increase engagement with your platform.
Benefits and Use Cases
Encourages content discovery. Users can find relevant content they might not have searched for explicitly.
Example
In Cluster, suggest related content clusters based on the topics and tags of a user's current project.
Increases user engagement. By providing relevant suggestions, users are more likely to spend more time on the platform.
Example
At the bottom of a content piece in Cluster, show related articles or resources from the same or related clusters.
Supports learning and research. Related content can help users explore a topic more deeply or from different angles.
Example
When a user is viewing an AI-generated summary in Cluster, suggest other content pieces that cover related subtopics or offer different perspectives.
Improves content organization. By linking related content, you create a more interconnected and coherent information structure.
Example
Use related content suggestions in Cluster to create thematic links between different clusters, helping users see connections across their projects.
Psychological Principles Supported
Curiosity Gap. Well-crafted related content suggestions can create a sense of curiosity, encouraging users to explore further.
Example
In Cluster, use intriguing titles or brief teasers for related content suggestions to spark user interest.
Cognitive Momentum. Once users start exploring a topic, they're more likely to continue if presented with relevant, interesting options.
Example
As users navigate through related content in Cluster, dynamically update suggestions based on their browsing path to maintain relevance and encourage continued exploration.
Implicit Learning. Users can gain a broader understanding of a topic by being exposed to related content, even if they don't explicitly seek it out.
Example
In Cluster's content viewing interface, subtly highlight key terms that appear across related content pieces, helping users implicitly grasp important concepts or trends in their field.
Implementation Guidelines
DON'T
Overwhelm users with too many related content suggestions at once
Suggest content that is too similar to what the user is already viewing
Ignore the context in which related content is being suggested
Make related content suggestions too prominent that they distract from the main content
Forget to provide options for users to refine or opt out of content suggestions
DO
Use algorithms that consider multiple factors (e.g., content similarity, user behavior, popularity) to generate relevant suggestions
Provide clear, concise explanations for why content is being suggested
Allow users to easily navigate between related content items
Regularly update and refine your recommendation algorithms based on user interactions
Ensure related content suggestions are diverse to avoid creating echo chambers