Usability testing is really important. I received many questions about why we should take care of it.

Actually, the answer is really simple – the usability, friendliness of your website, online store, application, or user interface of any window in your application – all of them need to be

• simple,
• intuitive
• and straightforward.

Please look at the Apple iPad or iPhone – you have one button and a well-designed navigation: simple, intuitive, and user-friendly.

Each designer has to consider not only functions, features, and your needs but also usability, ergonomic design, and your customers’ habits.

Yes, customer habits are also important.

What does the usability test look like?

Here is a great example of one 300-million-dollar button that changed the company.

Digideo specializes in usability audits that are also linked to optimization audits.

We use specific user testing for each project that we receive.

Setting up a usability test involves carefully creating a realistic situation in which a person performs a list of tasks using the tested product while observers watch and take notes.

Other test instruments, such as scripted instructions, prototypes, and pre-and post-test questionnaires, are also used to gather feedback on the tested product.

For example, to test the attachment function of an e-mail program, a scenario would describe a situation where a person needs to send an e-mail attachment and ask him or her to undertake this task. The aim is to observe how people function realistically so developers can see problem areas and what people like. Techniques popularly used to gather data during a usability test include think-aloud protocol, co-discovery learning, and eye tracking.

We use tools like Google Analytics, ClickHeat with heat maps, Crazyegg, usertesting.com, and loop11.com. It depends on our customers’ needs.

There are five apps we use for usability testing

1. UsabilityHub:

   • Pros:
     • Offers various testing methods like first-click, preference, and navigation tests.
     • Provides quick feedback from real users.
     • Easy to set up and use with a user-friendly interface.
   • Cons:
     • Limited customization options compared to some other tools.
     • The free plan restricts the number of tests that can be conducted.

2. UserTesting:

   • Pros:
     • Allows for in-depth user testing with video recordings and real-time feedback.
     • Offers a large panel of diverse testers for comprehensive feedback.
     • Provides detailed analytics and insights into user behavior.
   • Cons:
     • Higher cost compared to some other usability testing tools.
     • It requires more time and effort to set up and analyze results.

3. Optimal Workshop:

   • Pros:
     • A suite of tools for various usability testing methods like card sorting, tree testing, and first-click testing.
     • Offers detailed analytics and visualizations for easy interpretation.
     • Collaborative features for team-based testing and analysis.
   • Cons:
     • Pricing may be on the higher side for smaller businesses.
     • Some tools may have a steeper learning curve for beginners.

4. Hotjar:

   • Pros:
     • Provides heatmaps, session recordings, and feedback polls for comprehensive usability analysis.
     • Offers real-time insights into user behavior on the website.
     • Easy to install and integrate with websites.
   • Cons:
     • Limited customization options for certain features.
     • Additional tools may be required for more in-depth usability testing.

5. Crazy Egg:

   • Pros:
     • Offers heatmaps, scrollmaps, and user recordings for visualizing user interactions.
     • Easy to set up and provides real-time data on user behavior.
     • A/B testing capabilities for optimizing website elements.
   • Cons:
     • Pricing may be prohibitive for smaller businesses.
     • Some features may not be as advanced as other usability testing tools.

By considering the pros and cons of these usability testing tools – UsabilityHub, UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, Hotjar, and Crazy Egg – businesses can choose the tool that best fits their needs and budget to conduct effective usability testing for their online shop.