What questions can User Testing answer?
In my experience User Testing gives clients access to some very intriguing and enlightening data. Brands can obtain feedback from a variety of questions that can be vital into understanding how their website performs in the real world. This data is the real deal, evidence as to why their website may not be performing to its full potential. In the case of a company’s web presence it can answer the fundamental questions of why Users leave their website.
User Testing can be a priceless recourse for those who embrace it. It’s not market research though. Usability Testing or User Testing is far more expansive than just finding out how effective a website is in obtaining its full potential. It provides a framework to which brands can understand User behaviors, motivations and perceptions as well as being able to connect with their Users and find out the more simple stuff like can they get from A to B, and if not; Whats stopping them?
Now you may or may not have experience into Usability Testing but as I said User Testing can give unparalleled insight into User practices. Firstly lets look at some of the key ares and specific issues these ‘Usability metrics’ can identify.
Starting with Online Behavior, it’s a general term but there’s nothing general about the level of insight it can give brands.
What are the user perceptions?
•At what point would Users need assistance in using your website?
•What can be done to make the web presence more persuasive?
•How important is the role of images in your website?
•How effective are banners?
•What can be done to improve the interactive nature of the website?
•What key questions need to be answered to ensure Users commit to a purchase?
•Does the user have preconceptions about the brand or site?
Like Online Behavior User Testing also looks at the issues relating to your business processes that can also be identified.
•Are the current processes used in line with the expectations of your users?
•Are the practices used offline suitable for online activity?
•What impact does data collection have on a users willingness to buy products?
•Are the users having to make unnecessary steps?
•Is the business terminology used inline with user expectations?
Other areas addressed in brand perception, addressing questions like;
•Does the user have knowledge of the brand before they visit the site?
•What perception does the user have of the brands e-commerce presence?
•What feature or functions would be beneficial to the brands e-commerce presence?
•How effective is the brands virtual catalog?
•Are users aware of all the online features of the site?
Of course Usability Testing also gives insight into the User Experience itself.
•Do the search features on your site meet with user demands?
•What kind of reaction do users have to promotions and cross selling offers?
•Does the speed of the site meet with user expectations?
•How flexible are users towards our ideal idea of how the site should be navigated?
•Is the User Experience of the site intelligent enough?
•Do users have enough information detailed for individual products?
The above are just a sample of the potential questions that can be put to users through User Testing. The Testing User analysis can give the insight and evidence necessary of what to test and where on your website. This real insight allows for real changes to be implemented.
Author Bio:- Frank Holland a professional article writer for Testing User company, Best user testing company. He has written high quality articles on web design, website analysis, user testing and usability testing.