Comments on: Getting An Objective Perspective To Meet Your Goals

By: Trond Sorvoja

Trond Sorvoja — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:18:40 +0000

Nothing beats testing with real users, unfortunately this means that you would have to compensate them for their time (universal gift certificates are good).

Here is a summary of how I have done it in the past:
1. Make a list of various aspects of the site you want to test (find something, check if something is on the site, do a checkout etc), then translate it into a list of tasks for the user.
2. Tell the user that you are not testing him or her, but you are testing the website. Tell them that they could withdraw from the test at any time.
3. Only videotape the screen and input devices, do not videotape the user, let them know that they are not being videotaped.
4. Ask for further comments and feedback after the test.
5. Thank the user for his for her time and repeat that the test was of the website and not him or her.
6. Repeat 2-5 until you got enough data.
7. Analyse the data
8. Change the site.
9. Go back to 1 if there is still money left for testing.

By: Gaida

Gaida — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:37:36 +0000

Great post… loved the pictures and the saying…your site has a �face that only a mother could love�.

You did suggest asking family & friends first. Quite often they will not give you an honest opinion thinking they may offend you.

By: zania

zania — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:44:32 +0000

Very interesting post Donna.
I make loads of different blogs and I do try to match the theme and the look to the particular niche. But yes, sometimes you can get so involved with your own view of a site that you forget how it may look to other people. Very good point!
As to the blog in my signature, to be honest, the ‘look’ of it was not particularly important to me. I just wanted a theme that would take lots of writing! Probably not the best choice for making it reader friendly and now it is beginning to get a few readers, I guess I’ll need to think again.
Thanks for the reminder!