Test & Refine Site

Test early. Test often. You should be doing usability testing throughout the process-from baseline testing on the old site, tests with partial and low-fidelity prototypes, and testing both navigation and content as you fill out the site. Having representative users try out the site is the only way to really know how the site will facilitate users to accomplish their tasks and get answers to their questions.

Types of Evaluations

To assess the usability of any product, including Web sites, you can use any or all of several methods. These methods are broken into two major categories: usability evaluations and usability tests.  Learn More

Usability Testing

In a usability test, representative users try to do typical tasks with the product, while observers, including the development staff, watch, listen, and take notes. The product can be a Web site, Web application, or any other product.  Learn More

Heuristic Evaluations

A heuristic evaluation helps to identify usability problems by examining the interface and judge its compliance with a recognized set of usability principles (heuristics). Heuristic evaluations are one of the most informal methods of usability inspection. Results may be highly influenced by the knowledge and training of the expert reviewers. Learn More

Implement & Retest

For a usability test to have any value, you must use what you learn to improve the site.  Learn More