Usability testing
Usability testing (or user testing) involves watching typical site visitors attempt to complete realistic tasks on your website, with us measuring the ease with which they do so. The results of the analysis are a huge eye-opener and their implementation often leads to:
- Increased sales and task completion, as well as a high rate of return site visitors
- A greatly improved understanding of your customers' needs
- A significant reduction in call centre enquiries
- A much more user-focused in-house development team
Webcredible carried out usability testing for us across two countries. It was an eye-opening experience, particularly being able to watch the testing live in Webcredible's usability lab. The way the tests were conducted was to the highest calibre.
Simret Dhillon, World Health Organization (see more testimonials)
Usability testing is truly an eye-opening experience. You'll have the opportunity to witness your site visitors struggle to complete what you perceive to be the easiest and most intuitive of tasks.
Deliverables from the usability testing
Written report & presentation of usability testing findings
P&O Cruises improves usability
P&O Cruises has gained real insight into the requirements of its users, ensuring all future site developments prioritise the user experience.
Read the Webcredible P&O Cruises case study.
The usability testing report is very much recommendation-led and highlights the problem areas of the site from the usability testing. Clear recommendations are provided for how to remedy each issue. Recommendations are defined as high, medium and low priority, as appropriate.
The usability testing report is written in layman's terms with all relevant issues explained thoroughly and appropriate screenshots included. You can download a brief extract from a sample report.
Webcredible will also make a short presentation of the main findings from the usability testing. We'll shows video clips during the presentation to highlight some of the main points. We'll then run an implementation workshop whereby we all brainstorm the best possible way to implement our recommendations.
DVDs of usability testing
We can provide you with a DVD featuring all of the usability testing videos, as well as a DVD showing some of the main highlights from the usability testing. The highlights DVD is a great way to quickly show the usability testing to colleagues who were unable to watch the testing live.
Our usability testing facilities
You can watch the usability testing live from the adjacent viewing room
Using state-of-the-art software, we capture exactly what participants are doing on-screen
The usability lab seats the participant and the moderator, with the 1-way mirror off to the side
The viewing room is a large and comfortable room, seating up to 10 people
You also get access to our break out area, where you can relax between sessions
The usability testing takes place in our purpose-built usability lab, complete with microphones, cameras and eye tracking. Using state-of-the-art software we're able to capture what the user is doing on-screen, together with audio commentary and a video of the user carrying out the test. We strongly advise you watch the usability testing live - it's truly an eye-opening experience.
During the usability testing
During the usability testing participants are instructed to think aloud at all times. If they ever fall silent for more than a few seconds they're encouraged to keep talking. Our usability testers are expertly trained to ask questions and elicit thoughts in a non-biased and neutral manner.
Participants are assigned specific tasks to carry out and their ability to complete these tasks is monitored. Once the testing is complete we'll conduct a brief interview with each person. We'll typically conduct the usability testing with 6-12 participants per user group.
Before the usability testing
Before the usability testing is carried out we work closely with you to identify your precise goals for both the website and the usability testing. Together, we identify the different user groups using your site and source a number of people representative of your target audiences.
We then design and prepare a list of tasks for participants to complete so they're going through realistic journeys on your site. As standard, we run a pilot testing session before launching into the full usability testing.
What next?
Please contact us by phone on 0870 242 6095 or by e-mail at info at webcredible.co.uk. We'll discuss your usability testing needs and requirements with no pushy sales pitch and no obligation to you.
Other usability testing services
- International usability testing
- Mobile & handheld usability testing
- Game usability testing
- Remote usability testing
- Usability testing training
Read our article, 8 guidelines for usability testing and learn about usability testing right now!
