As we’ve mentioned in the past, when companies say they want to conduct “website usability testing,” they usually want to know about more than just usability.  They also want answers to questions such as what users think of the site and what would motivate them to use the site versus other options.  That’s why we typically include a qualitative interview along with our usability sessions.  But in some cases, clients want to focus on usability issues and gain a deep understanding of how users move through their website.  In these cases, we recommend conducting quantitative remote usability testing.

With remote usability testing, several hundred respondents interact with websites from their own homes or offices, and we record all their clicks and their paths through the sites.  We can also ask them questions about their experiences (both typical survey questions and open-ended questions).  Now in the old days (and by “the old days,” I mean 1999!), this required that respondents download special software.  But nowadays, it’s possible to record respondents browsing any website without downloading software and without any programming on the website.  That means that companies can even learn how users interact with their competitors’ websites!

Costs have come down, too.  Usually, a remote usability study with 200 respondents can be conducted for about the same cost as an in-person study with 15 respondents.  This provides a large enough sample to enable us to analyze the behavior of different segments, or what we call “personas” – that is,  different groups with distinct ways of interacting with a given website.

To discuss the best way to conduct research to make your website more effective, give us a call at (818) 752-7210.