Improving Web Site's Design and Performance with Usability Testing

There is no formula or a template for creating the perfect Web site. There is also no secret formula to measure a Web site's success. An old-fashioned Web site can be enormously popular generating large sums of money for their owners. It is also possible that a Web site is a masterpiece of design generating many "wows" from its visitors. The question is; are both types of Web sites successful?

Aiming for perfection in the design of a Web site is an ongoing process where the ultimate goal is never within reach, but a process that can bring success in one form or the other to the web site's owner. One important part of this process is to constantly measure and test Web site's usability to ensure the Web site is performing.

Usability testing with users includes methods such as direct or indirect observation, interviews, surveys and questionnaires. These methods require a lot of planning and involve time-consuming tasks such as finding a suitable group of potential users.

Technological advances have made it possible to test Web site's usability by observing actions of actual users while visiting a Web site and programmatically collect information that is useful for improving the Web site's design and performance. This is probably the most commonly used method for usability testing today.

Below you will find links on information and tools for usability testing.

Related links:

• 24 Usability Testing Tools
• 5 Easy Ways to Test Your Website's Usability
• 35+ Usability Resources for Web Designers
• Focus groups vs. usability testing - what, when and why?
• Usability Testing Toolkit: Resources, Articles, and Techniques

Related video:

10-second website usability testing

Filed under: General Observations and Views , User Interface Design

Posted by: Webmaster on : February 2010