Definition:

Before we get into whether you have usability, we need to define site “usability”. Usability. (yoo’za-bi-li-tee) 1. Usability is a generic term that refers to design features that enable something to be user-friendly. The term, and the concepts it encompasses, can be applied to anything from a paring knife to a space station, but here we use it to refer to features that make a Web site user-friendly. 2. The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which users can achieve tasks in a particular environment of a product. High usability means a system is: easy to learn and remember; efficient, visually pleasing and fun to use; and quick to recover from errors. 3. Fit for use; that can be used; capable of being used. In web design, this refers to the capability of a web site to be used by everyone. Usability issues include interface and navigation design (can the user easily understand how to find their way around the site), content layout (small blocks of text that are not too wide are easier for reading on the web), and accessibility and compatibility issues. For instance, Web sites with usability problems could be hard to navigate, difficult for disabled people to use, or have unclear instructions for use.

Testing:

So, now you know what usability is and how it can affect your website, what do you do about it? First, you can test your site using small test groups to examine how easy it is to use your website. These tests can be done while you are designing or re-designing your website during specific phases of the development process. Or they can be done to test specific pages or sections within your site to see why people are stopping on that page and leaving or they are on a page with a conversion button and they do not click through to buy or contact you. In both cases, you need to test to find out if your site has string usability.

How Do We Make Our Website More Usable?

Once you know why people are having problems navigating or following your intended path, take down their comments and make the necessary changes. Let the site work for your user rather than what you want it to do. The more your user is satisfied with what they find, how they acquire information and what their overall experience is in achieving an end result, the more they will come back and bring their friends and colleagues as well.

Setting Up an Affordable Test

Your testing strategy does not have to be expensive or complicated, the following videos will help you to set up your own tests and see if your site needs the help of professionals like Mobius Creative to optimize your user’s experience and achieve a high degree of usability.

FullSail University; Dan Gorgone – Usability Testing

Demo Usability Testing; Steve Krug – View Video

Additional Web Articles:

Bargain Basement Usability Testing
http://thinkvitamin.com/features/bargain-basement-usability-testing/
This article includes more tips on conducting tests along with a sample script.
Information Interplay: Visual Design, Information Architecture, and Content
http://www.uie.com/articles/information_interplay
This article from the User Interface Engineering blog illustrates a great example of how a sale on a retail site was lost because of design, organization, and content errors. It also makes a particular point about “using a scenario-driven approach,” which is to consider the goals of the user when designing your website.

If you are interested in testing your site as well as optimizing it to make it more usable by your readers, contact us as soon as possible to set up a meeting to discuss your needs.