Anchor text: User testing for agencies https://www.testmate.com.au/agency-user-testing/ 

Launching a project is something of great importance. It’s a one-off opportunity to make an impact. You can raise awareness, connect with your community, and let people see that the project is ready for delivery. Planning for inefficiencies needs to be done ahead of time. Many things can go wrong. As you’re moving closer to the official launch, user testing becomes essential. You must obtain feedback from real users and continue to improve what has already been built. 

Unfortunately, not too many agencies make user testing a priority. Perhaps they believe it’s worth it. Paying attention to users’ behaviour while they interact with the digital product is important to say the least. You can gain priceless insights about why and how they use your product. Given that the user experience is the most important ongoing consideration for any organisation, you should perform usability testing.

In this article, we’ll list the most prevalent myths regarding user testing. And show why they aren’t true. 

Analytics is enough to measure the business value of the design 

User testing is meant to pinpoint any usability issues and measure the participants’ level of satisfaction with the digital product. Maybe you don’t see the point of it all. Owing to big data and analytics, you can get your hands on information that can’t be refuted. Basically, you have a starting point for making objective business decisions. With services such as Google Analytics or Kissmetrics, you can access a wide range of numbers, tables, not to mention pie charts. Tools of this kind enable you to capture behavioural data and identify potential usability issues. 

Analytics has been used for a long time for strategy and tactics. In terms of user experience, you can rely on big data and analytics to get some interesting findings. However, analytics data isn’t better than standard user testing data. For a technology product to be successful, it has to work flawlessly and delight users. User testing delivers more insight into people. You can find out what they like or dislike about certain features. What is more, you’ll discover what role the product plays in their everyday life. To be more precise, you’ll find an optimal solution.  

You don’t feedback to build a better digital product 

So, you’re convinced that you don’t need feedback based on real interaction with your digital product. Actually, you don’t think that you should even listen to what people have to say. This is where you’re wrong. User testing will help you avoid costly mistakes. Let’s say that you’ve developed a neat application. A product of this kind is very complex and problems should be solved before it arrives on the market. You don’t have to rewrite or throw away code. 

When the deadlines fast approach, you fool yourself with optimistic beliefs, thinking that there is enough time It’s only at the last minute that you realise that you can’t possibly make up for the lost time. As you can see, there is a lot to be gained by listening to users. You limit the amount of downtime needed to fix problems. Additionally, the agency can support its idea in front of stakeholders and investors. Happier users translate into more customers, so you should better listen to users. Even if you have lots of qualitative data, you need to take the time to do serious analysis. To be more precise, you should bother to really listen. 

User testing should be carried out at the end of the project 

It’s still believed that user testing should be reserved for the end of the project. The truth is that you don’t have to wait that long to test the interface and functions of a website or software application. As a rule, user testing is performed at all stages of the project – that is, the beginning, the middle, and the end. Owing to the fact that it’s fast and effective, user testing can be incorporated at any stage without disturbing timelines or even budgets. 

Attention needs to be paid to the fact that testing is best carried out with people who aren’t within the immediate product circle. Those involved in the project shouldn’t be testers. So, how can you judge if the digital product will be a hit with customers? Don’t worry because your launch won’t end up in a disaster. There are many companies offering user testing for agencies. They strive to help clients uncover blockages they haven’t even anticipated. Additionally, these companies recruit users that match the specified profile and closely observe them as they interact with the website or application. 

Getting back on topic, it’s recommended to perform several checks throughout the project if you want to provide the best possible user experience. Don’t wait until the last minute. From there, it might be difficult to make tweaks and ensure the product you’re about to launch meets customers’ expectations. Get feedback early on. This way, you won’t end up building unnecessary features. 

Clients won’t see value in the product 

Product value can be roughly defined as the customers’ evaluation of a given product. If you’re not able to develop a website or a software program that brings value to customers, be sure that it won’t sell well. Maybe you’re afraid that usability testing will impact the value of the product. To be more precise, people will see that the digital product is flawed. Well, no agency would like to admit that their website, mobile app, whatever, has some problems. Nevertheless, it’s better to deal with the problem now.

Just imagine what would happen if you launched a digital product that doesn’t work. You should never put a product out there unless you’re completely certain that it’s flawless. A website or an application that doesn’t work properly will have a negative impact on your brand image. The digital product will be different from its competitors, but not in a good sense. Let real users show you what the problem/problems is/are and make the necessary adjustments ahead of time.  

User testing isn’t limited to usability, just so you know. Besides securing usability metrics, user testing offers information regarding all the other elements that constitute the user experience. Examples include but aren’t limited to design, accessibility, ergonomics, and utility. It’s anything but an obsolete method. 

comments