3 reasons to start doing usability tests tomorrow

Have you actually seen someone using your product? It's a transformative experience, it's refreshing as it's powerful and filled with insights. So, let me tell you my 3 reasons why you should start user testing tomorrow morning.

1. It will completely realign your priorities

Person looking at a mobile phone If you're working on a new feature, because your bug list is empty, be ready to look again, as watching users interact with your site will make you realize how many interface problems there are, even if the code works OK. If you are a programmer or have some background in coding, you will appreciate this metaphor: Think of the interface as the code to be interpreted, and the user as the interpreter, so in order to know if your interface is all right, you need to actually observe the user as he understands (compiles) the interface.

2. You will discover how good of a designer you are (or have)

Design is not about looks anymore, it's about crafting experiences that match your users expectations and allow them to flow seamlessly along the process to achieve their goals. You can have a flashy design, but if it gets in the way of your users buying your product, then it's not really good, isn't it? So the first time you watch a user interact with your site, don't listen to their comments on the snazzy video on the homepage, but actually observe where they click, how long it takes them to identify the main action button, and other things, like whether the bezel on the image makes it look like a button when it's not.

3. It will make your product better

With the insights you gather from your first user-testing session you will understand your users better, and you will have a list of usability problems in your key path, so the next day you will start with a new focus and task list that matches what's relevants for your customers, instead of your marketing advisor, investor or whatever guru you were following. Remember: every product is different, design that works in one site, doesn't have to work in another, and that's why you need to observe your users interacting with your own site. So, what are you waiting for? Start calling up on those users, creating your interview script and setting up your usability lab, now! Or, if you don't have time to do all that, you can just talk to us, and we'll handle everything for you, you'll get a nice written report, first-hand documentation from your users reactions to your site and a list of recommendations. Plus, you can still work with us to implement those solutions and test again to measure improvements. Contact us for a quote.