{"id":8046,"date":"2021-03-17T10:17:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T09:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uxstudioteam.com\/?p=8046"},"modified":"2024-06-05T14:30:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T13:30:04","slug":"usability-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timemachine.uxstudioteam.com\/ux-blog\/usability-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Do Usability Testing so it Benefits your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

This guide will help you better understand the purpose of usability tests, when to do usability testing, and the various types of usability tests.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Usability tests differ from surveys and focus groups in that you actually watch people use your product live. This way, you get real-time feedback and firsthand data about your product\u2019s usability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the words of Steve Krug, \u201c(usable) means making sure that something works well: that a person of average ability and experience can use the thing (…) for its intended purpose without getting hopelessly frustrated.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is usability testing for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Usability testing helps to validate product ease-of-use and functionality.<\/span> It\u2019s a method of experience research, and makes up the core of <\/span>UX research<\/span><\/a>. Usability tests are usually quantitative.<\/span><\/p>\n

In web design, usability tests have a dual purpose: discovering usability issues and indicating what works. All sites have issues, big or small, invisible to people who know how it\u2019s supposed to work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Users don\u2019t tolerate a bad experience. When their needs or expectations are not met, they\u2019ll get upset or mad, and associate these emotions with your product or service. Research can identify these points of tension.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Usability testing examines the following areas:<\/span><\/h4>\n

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  1. Usability (the ease of navigating your product)<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Accessibility (special needs not met)<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Performance issues (speed or reliability)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Technical problems (compatibility and integration)<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Functionality gaps (missing or inadequate features)<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Support and documentation (or lack thereof)<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Value proposition (is it easy to understand?)<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Cost (return of investment, hidden costs)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Security (privacy and data protection)<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Finally, <\/span>you can test competitors\u2019 solutions with the target group to gain insights on what could be changed or improved in your product.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can do usability testing in-house for less complex problems, like debugging. When it comes to quantitative tests, you should rely on experts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    As a top <\/span>ui\/ux design agency<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019ve helped over 250 companies across various industries. We have experience with problems of all shapes and sizes, and have a great toolbox for solutions. If you feel like you need an objective perspective, <\/span>contact us.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

    When to do usability testing<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Continuous testing would be, of course, ideal, but it\u2019s not always feasible. You definitely need usability testing in these 4 situations:<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. When you need to understand your user better<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    If you notice that you\u2019re thinking in terms about abstract personas or ideal customers, take a step back. You may already have enough data on your existing users to get a precise picture. Usability testing helps you go beyond analytics. Instead of getting reports on a surge of purchases, for example, you\u2019ll have details on what worked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. When you need to validate a feature, concept or product\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Sometimes, it\u2019s difficult to answer basic questions like \u201cis this a good idea?\u201d Usability testing helps you precisely assess user satisfaction and measure effectiveness. It gets you real and quantifiable user feedback on concepts, prototypes or existing solutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. When you need to predict a decision<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    By seeing how users make choices, you can adjust processes to guide them more effectively towards desired actions, like completing a purchase or finding information. Testing shows what users prefer when it comes to design, layout, and functionality, so you can tailor the product to meet their preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. When you need constructive, direct recommendations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Usability testing gets you direct user input and targeted feedback. The researchers will highlight priorities, suggest best practices and help you make evidence-based decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>📌 Example:\u00a0 82% of your users drop off on the checkout page of a food supplement webshop. Running a few usability tests focused on the checkout page can reveal the underlying reasons. It might turn out that the page asks for credit card information too early.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Usability testing is useful at various phases of the product design process. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n