"Usability" is ... Testing "usability"

Most website owners create them in order to either promote their products to the market of goods, or make a profit directly through the monetization of their site. That is, advertising is placed on it, and for the users viewing it, the site owner receives a certain profit.

That's why administrators are interested in a large attendance. The more it is, the more profit from advertising. A full schedule is provided by a high level of "usability" pages. So what is "usability"? In what ways can you make your site more attractive to users and potential customers?

Introduction to the concept of

"Usability" is, in fact, an indicator of the extent to which the visitor of the site is comfortable to interact with his interface. Methods that improve the site at the stage of its development, also called this term.

Suppose that a user opens a particular web page. What does he expect to see? Of course, first of all, a clear menu. And with it - a clear structure. This also includes readable content. However, now you can find a lot of resources on which there is a confusion of hyperlinks, pictures and buttons. It would seem that all the necessary elements are there. However, it may take time to properly use them.

It's unlikely that a client will want to waste his precious time to do it. "Usability" is quite a serious competitive advantage in our time. Forrester Research conducted a study on this topic. It showed that almost half of the buyers leave the online store, if they can not quickly find in this section of a particular product. In addition, after such experience with the resource, half of the buyers refused to return to it.

Research and scientific facts related to "usability"

Sociologists also note the fact that in our time people are already too impatient. Especially users of the Internet audience. Another study was conducted by the Nielsen Norman Group. It showed that the average user is only on the page for about half a minute. It was noted that in most cases, users do not even search the web page to the end.

Jakob Nielsen believes that the reason for this behavior lies in a lot of really useless information. So, people constantly need to filter a wide information flow to select from it only those fragments that interest them in fact.

Of course, for a detailed study of the site can take so long that nothing else will simply not remain. Customers do not want to, and will not wait if the site is slow to load, and will not use it if it has a complex interface. That's where the "usability" comes in. This helps to deal with many problems.

A lot of specialists in this field speak about the same. For example, it is said that a clear parallel can be drawn between a simple website that is understandable for any user, a website and a well-lit shop window. "Usability" is a "degree of illumination" in this case. The developer should clearly understand that he has only a few seconds to interest the visitor and unobtrusively let know that his site is better than others.

This can be done through the use of a thoughtful interface. In a short period of time, he should let the user understand at an intuitive level what and how to do next. A person should be interested in the site, feel that here he will find what he needs. If this does not happen, the client will leave the site.

Testing

In any case, this process is an obligatory step in the development of "usability." Its essence, in principle, is straightforward: several respondents solve a set of those or other problems using only the prototype of the system. A specialist who is at the same time, fixes all actions and words. When data collection is completed, they are analyzed. If necessary, corrections are made to the project.

Testing "usability" is carried out with the purpose of detection of shortcomings or problems. They can quite arise among the respondents while working with the site, and it is not worth to be afraid of. The main thing is to make the correct adjustments.

What does the site analysis involve?

Analysis of "usability" allows you to get a comprehensive picture of the entire site. This usually includes design conclusions, test results, comparison of the prototypes of the analyzed pages, as well as issuing various recommendations that will help to eliminate the existing problems.

The design conclusion determines the so-called "usability" of the interface. That is, how convenient and at the same time comfortable the user will work with this website. "Usability" examples are provided by many services that are always ready to provide their services in this regard.

Differences in resource levels

If advertising costs are the same, then a site that has a higher level of "usability" will accept a larger number of potential customers. They will also be more loyal to the company. And this is important, as customers will visit the site and make purchases on an ongoing basis.

It is quite possible to unload the managers of the company, because at a high level of "usability" customers can find answers to their questions themselves, on the pages of the resource. Consequently, management can reduce the costs needed to maintain managers, which will positively affect business.

What is being studied to get usability?

This is a whole complex of factors. The following criteria can be applied to them:

1. Efficiency of use. At what speed will the client be able to solve his problems if he learns to use the resource?
2. Ease of learning. How quickly does the visitor first learn how to use the interface for the first time?
3. Memorability. Will the client be able to reproduce the pattern of use learned for the first time when reopening the pages?
4. Errors. How often does the visitor make mistakes while on the site? How can these errors be corrected, and to what extent are they serious?
5. Satisfaction from the work done. Did you like the resource to the user? If you liked, then how much?

Conclusion and conclusions

Statistics show that out of 10 users, more than half (and, to be more precise, 6) can not find the necessary information in the international network immediately. The reason for this lies in the wrong construction of "usability." The Internet was created to exchange a total flow of information, but many sites do not comply with the usual rules for such an exchange. This leads to the fact that the search for useful information takes much more time. The utility coefficient of the same work decreases proportionally.

Testing is recommended for all site owners. This is beneficial to them in the first place, because due to the correct statement of "usability" it is possible to increase the permanent audience of the site. And consequently, it is successful to monetize it.