Usability testing tends to be one of those things that designers practically “neglect”. Why? Let’s try to figure it out. Usability testing the way it’s usually done costs money. It is necessary to conduct an interview, create various tests for each individual project, pay for various services… and what if the client is in another country? Or what if it’s a small business with a small budget, or a brand new startup? And what if you learned web design actually and primarily for the sole reason that you want to build your own website? Look in your wallet. Do you have what it takes to pay for classic usability testing?
It’s not unusual. If usability testing advice is given, it is assumed that you are working on some “huge project” for a client that can afford this exclusive staff. Even articles that talk about testing on a budget often refer to paid services. Sometimes it simply doesn’t make sense that you should pay for some extra services in addition to all the other expenses. This is what usability testing looks like to the rest of us…
Start with friends
Paul Boag wrote on this topic :
Sit five or six random people in front of a computer, show them your website, and ask them to try to complete a series of tasks while you talk to them about them.
Yes, this is where you should start. I will add a few more recommendations:
Get the least tech-savvy people you know. The kind that don’t feel comfortable when they have to do something with a mouse. The kind that ask you for advice every time they see a dialog asking them if they want to save their file. If these can work with your site, you’re good to go.
If possible, test on mobile devices as well. Don’t test on different platforms with the same users. They would have difficulty re-orienting themselves to be able to reacquaint themselves with the basic structure of your site. Test with other users on each device.
Be aware that participating in the experiment as an observer may affect its outcome. In this case, it specifically means that if people know they are being watched when interacting with the web, they may behave differently than they would normally behave if they were sure they weren’t being watched. However, slightly skewed data is better than none at all.
Play as a character to complete various tasks
It’s not a disguise, or a magic hat, unless you really like it (I’d really like a magic hat). You have to play yourself to the best of your ability. It can be difficult to take a dispassionate view of your project. After all, you built it. You know all its corners. How could you pretend you don’t know him? It’s not enough to say to yourself, “Okay, I’ll imagine a character, let’s call it Jendy the Average, and I’ll get it out of the way!” It doesn’t work that way. Even if you’re really good actors and japan phone number data can fake a lot of things, it’s still you. So what do I advise? Choose a character that you want to become, and at the same time change the viewing conditions.
Try browsing your website quickly
On your phone in the sun. Grab a free screen reader and, blindfolded, try to get to your own CTA the way a blind person would. Lazily browse your website in the living room on some tablet with the television blaring the first thing is to ruce loudly in the background. Use an antediluvian desktop or mobile browser as a worst case scenario. Just try to simulate the conditions under which different users will navigate your website. You may have to get up and cmo email list leave the chancel to do this. You may need to put one hand behind your back as if you don’t have one.
