The power of usability testing
Read time: 4 minutes
The day I learned the power of usability testing.
9 years ago, during my first job, I was tasked with conducting usability testing for one of my initial designs.
One of the most critical components on the screen was the eligibility checker, which informed the users if they were eligible for an offer.
Each of the 7 users I tested completely ignored the component.
This component was something that helped drive 40% of our revenue.
When the company's CEO saw the usability testing results, he insisted we test all the revenue-generating pages. Funnily enough, that component wasn’t even part of my design.
Since then, I have conducted usability testing in 90% of the roles I have worked for. I must have done over 100 usability testing sessions to date.
Usability testing has significantly improved my designs, allowing me to positively impact business success.
It has also helped support my ideas when stakeholders push back on the ideas I am suggesting.
Usability testing is also a skill more and more employers are looking for in the designers they are hiring.
But do you want to know a secret?
The techniques I use for usability testing haven’t changed much over the years.
I want to run through 5 essential techniques with you today to help you develop your process for usability testing.
Preparation
Question guide
Pilot testing
Balanced feedback
Gathering quotes
#1: Preparation
A successful usability test starts with good preparation. The first step in my preparation is identifying what I want to learn from this test.
Here’s how I go about doing this:
I write out the key 3-5 actions users can complete on my design.
I’ll ask myself if there are aspects of my design I’m unsure about and include these.
This planning technique ensures I cover all the important parts of my design.
#2: Writing the question guide
Here’s what I do:
I take my actions and start to create tasks based on them.
I added additional follow-up questions to ask users while they are completing the task.
Quick note: Don't make a task really long and complex. Break it down into smaller tasks to make it easier for the user to understand.
#3: Pilot testing
Here’s how it works:
Avoid conducting usability testing without a practice run - especially if this is new for you.
A pilot test lets you double-check your questions, prototype, and timings.
This ensures you are prepared, helping you feel more confident to run the usability sessions.
Quick note: test all your recording equipment, especially if you’re testing online. You’ll be surprised at how many small tech problems can occur.
#4: Balanced feedback
Ensure you ask follow-up questions that allow participants to provide you with positive and constructive feedback.
Remind participants there are no wrong answers.
This allows them to feel comfortable even if they are providing negative feedback
I won’t tell the participant I have designed the feature they are testing, as it could impact their likelihood of providing critical feedback.
#5: Gather quotes
When writing the research report, I always add direct user quotes.
Instead of simply saying participants found this difficult - I added 2-3 quotes where users showed confusion or frustration.
It allows stakeholders to understand participants' feelings and adds context to the insight.
I’ve also found stakeholders are much more engaged when I use this approach.
Usability testing has helped me identify huge mistakes in some of my design flows.
Usability testing will give you more comfort, knowing you’ve done everything possible to reduce the likelihood of failure in your designs.
That's all for today!
See you next week.
