Website Usability Guidelines

Usability Testing Rules

Follow these usability recommendations:

Testing Recommendation - Test often to ensure the highest standard of usability. Follow this simple protocol:

Selecting Test Participants - Select at least three people that fit the customer profile for your product or service. It may be necessary to pay a fee for the participant to evaluate your web site. In most cases this is money well spent.

Do not select these participants - It is best not to select friends, employees, or relatives. These people may not give you an honest evaluation because they do not want to hurt your feelings.

Pre-Assignment Instructions - Instruct the participant that there are no right or wrong actions. You simply want to observe him or her performing specific assignments.

Specific Assignments - Have specific assignments for the participant to test. For example, you may want the participant to buy a product, or navigate to a certain interior page. You will want to observe the participant performing the assignment and make notes of any problems.

Number of Assignments - You may want to give the participant as many specific assignments as you feel a normal user would want to accomplish during a visit to your website.

Post-Assignment Interview - After the participant has completed or given up on the assignment you will want to discuss the problems. Ask the participant questions about your product or service. Ask if they were motivated to buy the product.

Competitors Sites - Show the participant competitor's websites and ask for an honest opinion as to usability and other web site elements.

Closing the Interview - Ask the participant for recommendations. Don't argue with the participant. Studies show that the participants are usually correct in their observations.