My Experience Conducting Usability Testing for a Website

    

    Usability Testing is  a method of testing the functionality of a website, app, or other digital product by observing real users as they attempt to complete tasks on it. The users are usually observed by researchers working for a business. The reason I do the Usability Testing is because I want to improve the functionality of my website so that user will gain better experience when interact with the website. 

    Usability Testing is important because the test is being done with real time user that will reveal the problem with the website compared to other website that they have familiar with before. Also bringing in a new user to test the website is an affective way to determine whether the visitors understand completely how the site works and don't get lost or confusion during their time to access the website. It is also to ensure that they can complete the main actions they need to do on the website such as searching for an item and etc. Next, it is also to ensure that they don't encounter any usability issues or bug during their time on accessing the website to check out the item as an example. Then, it is also to know if they have a functional and efficient experience during the assessment. Lastly, it is also to know any other usability problem of the website.

    I have test the website with real user experience that they will go through the website and observe what is the problem that they face during their time accessing the website. They are given time for 5 minutes to go through and observe the website. Then after they have done go through the website I will give a question to make sure that they understand fully the website function and does not have any problem with the website. Most of the questions is to ensure that the website function is fully understand by the user so that I know what to improved from their experience. The time taken is depends on the user experience with other website that may take from 15-30 minutes for each person because of their understanding of the website. The number of user included to take part in the website usability testing is 5 people that go through live website and I will moderate their action during their observation time. 

    The benefits from doing the usability testing is to validate the prototype of the website. I can test their reaction either they know the purpose of the website, do they know what I'm trying to do and etc. Next, it is also to ensure that the website is to meet the expectations of the user. It is to ensure that if the website is user friendly to them and to ensure that everything is working according to the objective. Next, it is also can identify issues with complex flows. For the e-commerce website especially during the checkout process as an example, to ensure that these processes are intuitive and straightforward as possible. Finally, it also can catch minor errors. The users can pick out small errors that developer cannot see and they mention it so that we can fix such as link crash.