copywriting - Prompt user to edit an inline-edit field

Using an edit-in-place field for users to provide their name.

The phrase "Type your name" imperatively indicates that users can (and should!) type their name. However, unless the edit-in-place field is first clicked, typing a name affects nothing.

The phrase "Click here to edit your name", while a bit verbose, is becoming less suitable as people no longer "click" but touch with a finger.

What is a good way to prompt users to type their name into an edit-in-place field?

Ideas

• Use the Yellow Fade Technique on the field that a user can edit.


• Use the "click here" phrase and carry on with life.


• Use "Your name" and hope they get the hint.


• Use a sliding or fading tool-tip?

Context

For example, consider the following screen:

Users do not have to change "Unknown User" (their name), but they can personalize it if desired.

Related Links

Answer

I recommend using hover affordance. For such a large UI item, you can cause a textbox to appear behind the element when you hover over it, encouraging users to see it as an editable element.

^{download bmml source – Wireframes created with Balsamiq Mockups}

This works well for sites that have an 'edit mode' or similar, to constrain the distracting hover activity for when the user wants to make changes. It works poorly without this constraint, as the site is constantly flickering as they move their mouse over editable page elements.