Usability testing services
Online usability testing of websites, web apps, and mobile apps
What is usability testing?
Usability testing is the process of testing how easy it is for a person to actually use your site or app. Unlike functional testing, which tests that your site or app works exactly as outlined in the project specification, usability testing assesses how user-friendly your site or app is. When all other elements of your product or service (for example, price or features) are equal, usability is the magic ingredient that makes people love your site or app.
Our usability testing services
Our core usability testing services consist of online user testing, website reviews, and online A/B testing.
Online user testing
Online user testing is where we design a hands-on test that involves your target users interacting with your site or app as they complete a number of tasks. Their actions and comments are recorded while doing so, so that you can clearly identify any sources of error or confusion. In a nutshell, online user testing allows you to see your site or app through your users' eyes.
Online A/B testing
Online A/B testing is where we test multiple versions of a site or app to make an objective assessment about which version works best. It allows you to evaluate two or more potential designs or to test if a proposed change improves or reduces the usability of the site or app.
Website reviews
Website & web app reviews are where our in-house usability experts review your site or app and evaluate its usability based on a detailed matrix of usability principles and best practices. If your budget is limited, this can be an affordable way of getting an independent evaluation of your site or app's usability. It can also be a cost-effective way of finding and fixing the most blatant usability issues before proceeding to conduct user testing.
Benefits of usability testing
The impact of poor usability is very clear: lost sales, unhappy customers, poor reviews, and a constant battle to keep on top of your customers' complaints and problems. By contrast, a usable product directly impacts a company's bottom line by:
- Reducing customer support calls
- Reducing errors in customer transactions
- Increasing completion rates for online forms
- Increasing customer satisfaction and retention
- Improving user productivity
- Promoting customer self-service online
- Reducing training requirements
In summary, if you are...
- About to launch a new site or app
- In the process of designing or developing a new site or app
- Confused as to why your current site or app is not performing
- Considering re-designing your current site or app
- Interested in finding out what your users think about a competitor's site or app
...you should conduct usability testing to reduce the risk of lost sales, unhappy customers, and brand damage.
Steve Krug, Rocket Surgery Made Easy
Usability testing is one of the best things people can do to improve web sites
(or almost anything they're creating that people have to interact with).