Usability Testing
Complex Web Site Functionality
We recommend conducting an usability test when a web site with complex functionality, is built. If a process is initiated which must be completed by the web site user, it is very important that they comprehend the process and can intuitively use the web site to effortlessly complete this process. This way everybody wins, since they have had a pleasant experience and you have gotten them to complete the process successfully.
Closing windows while not having fully completed a process, is the most common mistake users make. This can have consequences when they are engaged in a buying or booking process and have not completed all necessary steps.
To prevent this and other mishaps, an usability test points out weak points when using the web site so that these can be removed and the user friendliness of the site can be improved.
Costs and Results of a Usability Test
Usability testing prevents wasting money in software that only few people understand and can use, or that your web site turns into a source of frustration for your clients turning them away and seeking alternative online resources (i.e. your competitors). An usability test will save you money in the long run, since it eliminates mistakes in the usability and processes of your web site and ensures an user friendly experience.
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How does Visual Orange Conduct a Usability Test?
The persons testing the screen flow of a specific process are representatives of your target/user group. This group will need to provide us with:
- the experienced internet or application user;
- the user that uses the internet or applications once in a while;
- the internet or computer novice.
These users will have to fulfill and finalize specific tasks on the web site. How they manage to succeed in doing this or where in the process they fail, tells us exactly where the application has to be modified and improved.
Another aspect that is evaluated is the user experience, which differs from the usability of a web site. User experience is engaging the user in a positive way. It is delivering a smooth process without any sudden and unexpected events, serving information the user needs to know and satisfies or even exceeds his expectations when visiting your web site.
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