Test Your Site With Real Users

Imagine a French publisher specializing in technical books. They published a CSS3, HTML5, and jQuery guide—only to discover a glaring typo: "HTLM5" on the cover! This highlights a common project pitfall: the "head-in-the-handlebar" effect. Teams become so focused on deadlines that crucial details are overlooked. This leads to shipping products with subtle (or significant) flaws, impacting user experience and potentially harming the product's success.

The Power of External Perspective: User Testing

To avoid such missteps, an external perspective is vital. This is where usability testing—testing your product with users outside your team—proves invaluable. Ideally, test with your target audience. If that's impossible, at least involve individuals who weren't directly involved in the project's development. Remember to also consider users with various accessibility needs.

When to Begin Testing?

Ideally, testing should begin early and often. Testing prototypes before full development saves time and resources. Even testing HTML/CSS/JavaScript prototypes with placeholder data is beneficial, although changes become more complex later in the development cycle.

Defining Your Testing Scope

First, identify specific tasks or activities to test. These should be user-centric, with clear goals. Examples include account creation, checkout processes, or navigating from homepage to a specific blog post. Create a test script (a series of questions guiding the user) to ensure consistent testing. Avoid biased questions; instead of asking users to "sign up," try "create an account" for more natural interactions.

Recruiting Participants

Identify your target users and devise a plan to reach them. This could involve leveraging support teams, sales data, or engaging directly with potential users in relevant online communities or physical locations. Use social media carefully, ensuring you target the right audience. Screeners (pre-test questionnaires) help qualify participants. Remember to compensate participants for their time. If budget allows, consider professional recruitment services.

Test Logistics and Preparation

Once participants are recruited, schedule the tests (remote or in-person). Prepare the testing environment (physical or virtual) to ensure comfort and accessibility. Send reminders to participants. Crucially, conduct a dry run with your team to identify and fix any issues before the actual tests begin.

Conducting the Test

Two testers are ideal: one facilitator and one note-taker. Welcome participants, obtain consent (and permission to record), and emphasize that the focus is on the product, not their performance. Encourage them to think aloud. Resist the urge to help users; observe their natural interactions. Document any struggles ("failed" tasks) but avoid influencing their actions. After the test, thank participants and provide compensation. Back up recordings and notes immediately.

Analyzing and Applying Findings

After each test, create a preliminary analysis while the experience is fresh. Visual tools like Miro boards, with sticky notes representing feedback categorized by type (comments, feature requests, usability issues), are very helpful. Prioritize issues based on frequency and impact. The goal is to learn, iterate, and improve. Focus on the most critical issues first. Collaboration is key in determining priorities and implementing changes.

Conclusion

Regular user testing is crucial for product success. This overview simplifies the process, but professional usability testing is more intricate. While dedicated user researchers are ideal, even smaller projects can benefit from basic user testing. The resources listed below offer more in-depth guidance.

Further Resources:

• Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
• Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
• “User testing” by Ida Aalen
• “Qualitative Usability Testing: Study Guide” by Kate Moran
• “Making Note-taking Easier During A Usability Test” by Justine Win
• “A Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing” by Maze
• “You Can’t Test Everything, So What Should You Test?” by Maria Rosala
• “Run more effective remote usability tests with these 5 tips” by Renee Fleck
• “Remote Usability Testing 101 & How to Get Started” by Justin Morales
• “The Best UX Design Tools You Need for Testing” by Paul Boag
• “Things to consider when doing usability testing with disabled people” by Peter van Grieken
• Fable (user recruitment platform)

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