Download - Usability Techniques for Startups
Quick and Dirty Usability Techniques for Startups
@cperfetti
Reserving a hotel room
Choosing check-in and checkout dates
Click and view the room
Fill out reservation form
Did Broadmoor help users achieve their goals?
In usability tests, many users booked the wrong number of nights at the hotel
Usability Testing
Putting someone (usually a member of your target audience) in front of something (usually your product or web site) and watching them work
The benefits of usability testing for startups
Helps startups make informed decisions about the product or the product’s design
Provides information about your customers’ needs and goals
Gets the right members of your team involved in the design process
Makes your product better!
Results from user research and usability studies often lead to small breakthroughs
Quick and Dirty Research Techniques
User research and usability testing don’t have to be time intensive
The best teams start conducting quick and dirty techniques and tricks right away
They avoid making excuses about constraints
They start testing with customers in the first two weeks of development
Not enough time
No resources and staff
Little money Unsure where to start
Testing is too scientific
The Excuses
A usability test
The Quick and Dirty Version
Bring in user, sit beside them, and watch what they do
Greet the user
Explain how the test will work
Give users tasks to complete and observe the problems they experience
General Q&A
Debrief with observers
Start testing anywhere
Start testing anyone
A usability test
Exploration: Usability Test
One person is the userThink aloud as you work
One person is the observerObserve silently and take notes
As the user...
We’re evaluating the design, not you
The answer is somewhere on the siteIf you experience problems, it’s not your fault
You’re helping the observers learn more about the design problems
You can stop the task at any time
As the observer...
Take notes as the user worksWas the user successful?
How did the user go about performing the task?
Did they go to the search engine, what links did they click on?
What obstacles did the user encounter?
What confusion did they experience?
Note things that worked well
When you complete a task, say, “Got it!”
Disney.com
ScenarioYour 5-year-old niece has always wanted to go to Disney World.
You have decided to take her there for a vacation.
Task AssignmentYou are looking for a hotel within the park. You want it to be
the cheapest hotel with access to the monorail. Which Disney hotel would you choose to stay in?
Discussion
How many users found the answer?
What helped users succeed?
What obstacles prevented them from finding what they wanted?
What do you expect will happen when you test your product?
Tests can take 10 minutes
5 Second Page test
A simple technique
Can be done in less than 10 minutes
Tells designer if page is clear and concise
Buying A Notebook Computer
You’re ready to buy a new notebook computer
You consider a computer a big purchase
How much technical support will you get if you experience problems?
Exercise Questions
Write down everything you remember about the page
From this page, do you feel the site would give you reliable technical support?
If not, why?
Exercise Questions
Write down everything you remember about the page
From this page, do you feel the site would give you reliable technical support?
If not, why?
Do you feel this page was better or worse than the previous page?
Exercise Questions
Write down everything you remember about the page
From this page, do you feel the site would give you reliable technical support?
If not, why?
Do you feel this page was better or worse than the previous pages?
Five-Second Page Tests
Designers often intend pages to have a single purpose
We use when users complain that pages are too cluttered or confusing
Identifies if pages quickly communicate their purpose
Comprehension Tests
Pages contain complex content Such as policies or procedures
User comprehension is imperative to their success
Questions determine if users understand content
What causes most design problems?
We’ve conducted hundreds of usability studies
Each test identifies dozens of problems
The underlying cause is the same for every problem:
Someone on the team didn’t communicate everything they knew about the product or users
The best studies...
Usability tests are only successful if the right people are involved in the design process
Designers, developers, engineers, marketing, usability professionals, content strategists can all involved
This is possible even with quick and dirty testing
Tests should happen early
The most common usability technique for startups
Paper prototype tests typically happen during the first two weeks of development and involves all team members
Design is in flux
Development team needs to try ideas and get feedback quickly
All team members can participate in the study
Allows design teams to go through multiple design iterations in a week
“We’re building a what with what?”Heather O’Neill, Above the Fold
http://www.abovethefolddesign.com/blog/2010/08/24/from-paper-to-prototype/
Building a paper prototype
The paper prototype consists of:
A “screen” (large cardboard or paper rectangle)
Separate pieces of paper for each screen state, drop-down menu, or pop-up
1-2 team members silently simulate the behavior of the computer by placing pieces of paper in front of the user
Paper Prototyping by Carolyn Snyder
Testing the Home Page: First Click Tests
Useful method to assess where users first click on your site’s home or entry page
Provide users with a specific task to complete when they arrive at the site
By observing where users first click, it’s a clear indicator whether they’ll eventually be successful
What do customers find valuable?
Inherent value testing
Variant of usability test
Identifies why loyal users love the site/service
Determines if new users see the same value
Inherent Value Testing
Trying to attract new users
Loyal user base already exists
Phase I: Identifies the value of the site for loyal users
Phase II: Do new users see the same value?
Competitive Testing
Compares designs to competitorsLooks for innovationsPrevents copying features that don’t really work
Tasks are identical across competitors
Quick and Dirty Techniques
We use these techniques when we’re unsure of who are users are and what they want to accomplish
Interview-based Tasks
User Interviews
Interview-based tasks
Combine interviewing before and during test to identify users’ goals
As part of the test, users talk about their specific goals and perform tasks based on these goals
Realistically assess usability given users’ own goals
Stylous.com
The user interview
If you are short on time and money
Bring in one user per month
Ask them about their goals, motivations, and needs
General questions
What activities waste your time or drive you crazy?
How did you learn about the product?
Who do you provide information to? What information do you collect?
What information do you need to make a decision?
Questions about the product
What are your most important and frequent activities with the product?
What are the two things you like best about the product?
What are the two things you would like to see improved?
Are there any activities you currently perform that you’d like to see automated?
What changes to the product would make your life easier?
Thank You!
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @cperfetti
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October 25: Paper Prototyping Essentials
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January 27-28: Usability Bootcamp
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Quick and Dirty Usability Techniques for Startups
@cperfetti
