Tool Tip Invitation

Problem

Designer needs to cue the user about what will happen if they click the mouse on the hovered object.

Example of showing insertion cursor to invite user to edit photo title in flickr

You want to invite the user to click or interact with the object being hovered over.
You want to make it clear that something will happen when the user clicks on the object being hovered over.
The user is interacting directly with the object (e.g., inline editing).
You need a textual description to make it explicit what will happen when the user interacts with the object.
You want to entice the user to interact with the feature.

Provide a tool tip when the mouse is over the target area that calls the user to action.
Show the tooltip within a very short amount of time (< .25 second) or immediately when the mouse hovers over the interaction area.
Keep the tooltip visible the whole time the user has the mouse over the interaction area.
Remove the tooltip when the mouse leaves the interaction area.
Provide a short phrase that calls the user to action.
Use verbal phrases like 'Click to Edit'.

For more information, see the rationale for Invitation patterns.

See the general discussion about accessibility for Invitation patterns.

Yahoo! Pattern Library