Why would you care about usability testing?

Source: My pictures, created by kerlund74

Going back...

Did you know that the back button is the most used function in our web browsers? Poor usability means that activities take a longer time to perform on your website. This will probably result in users leaving your page and go to another page with similar services or content. Poor usability also result in bad User Experience, which is bad for your site. The entire User Experience depends on several factors, where usability is one.

This is how you should do usability testing.

What is a usability test?

A usability test contains several phases, as you can see in the picture.

This picture is bought and edited in Canva.

Perform the test with “real users” if it is possible. I mean users that actually might use your site and located in the target audience for your site. If it’s possible involve more than one user. This gives more hints about things that aren’t working. Careful planning will make the test quicker for the people that are performing the test for you.Tell them how the test will be done and what is required of them.

Create tasks for the users to perform during the test.

Tasks could be in these areas:

Functionality: make an order, vote, write a message/email, ask questions and so on. None of this functions should take more than three clicks to reach.
Navigation: menues, buttons, links. Are they obvious? Can users find them?
Readability: fonts, sizes, format.
Understanding: do the users understand what to do, where and how to do it and maybe why they should do it? Is there some signifiers that help when it’s not obvious or feedback that correct if someone gets lost? Small hints of kindness are most appreciated by the visitors to your site!

Instruct the testers to speak out loud during the test: they should tell you whatever crosses their mind according to the site.
If you are allowed, record the test! Even if you take notes it’s hard to remember everything says during the test. A video recording is extremely valuable when you are going to make improvements to the site.

After testing is done 

Take all feedback from the tests into consideration and make necessary improvements on the site. Edit and make adjustments. When you are through, make another usability test. Does things work better this time? Did the improvements make the site better?
Is possible that you have to do usability testing a few times. Remember that each time makes your site a better place for users, it improves the overall User Experience. The time it takes is won by more users staying on your site if they understand what to do and why.

You can read more about usability on my blog moreusability.

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Proud member and supporter of the Minnow Support Project - Brought to you by @aggroed, @ausbitbank, @teamsteem, and @canadian-coconut

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