Catching and remediating accessibility issues is a crucial part of developing a website, mobile app, or software. But there are improvements you can make to your site that go beyond accessibility. That’s where usability tests come in.
What is a usability test?
A usability test captures the experience of your users. They help answer questions such as:
- How do people perceive my website?
- How easily and efficiently can users complete tasks on my website?
- What common pain points do users run into when using my website?
The test itself consists of several common tasks people will want to complete when using your site. A group of testers complete these tasks and provide feedback by answering a series of questions about their experience. Each task is often timed to measure how efficiently users can accomplish tasks on the site. Another quantitative measure recorded is if the user is able to successfully complete each task.
How to prepare for your usability test
Are you ready to run a usability test on your site? If so, you’ll want to think about what you want to learn from the test. This is an opportunity to gain valuable insights directly from users, so you want to make sure to plan accordingly. Some tips before you begin:
- Think about the primary purposes of your website. What do you want users to accomplish when accessing your site?
- Find out what pages users access the most on your site. High-traffic pages should usually be included in the usability test. Make a list of pages you want to test.
- List out some ideas for tasks to include in the test. For example, a task could be “You want to stay up-to-date with Company A’s news and deals. Find out how to sign up for their emails.”
How WeCo can help you
At WeCo, our usability specialists will work to make your usability testing experience as easy and informative as possible. Our Certified Test Consultants (CTCs) all live with one or more disability, and they are trained to give you valuable feedback about their experience using your site.
Learn more about WeCo’s Disability-Focused Usability Testing services. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!