1. EFFECTIVE USABILITY
TESTING ON THE CHEAP
A SIMPLE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE YOUR CUSTOMER’S CATALOG AND
WEBSITE EXPERIENCE

2. SPACE
OR

3. PARTICIPANTS
• Go Downtown (See 90 Percent of Everything by
Harry Brignull.) http://www.
90percentofeverything.com/2009/05/22
• You Only need to test 3-5
• Demographic variety is best, but don’t obsess

4. ASSISTANCE
BEST OR IF YOU
MUST…

5. PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOG

6. TEST QUESTIONS
• Write a Welcome Script
• Target Areas You Want to Test
• Action, Task Oriented Questions
• Avoid Using Your Label Words
• Write Down Search Terms

7. ANALYZING RESPONSES
• Create Spreadsheet
• Look For Common Themes
Questions Participant Participant Participant 3 Participant
1 2 4
Do a keyword Homepage – Homepage – Homepage – Catalog – Start
search for Catalog Search Catalog Search Catalog Search Box typing “Venice” –
Venice. Box “Venice” Box “Venice” “Venice” (using Go picks Venice, Italy
button) from catalog
The first title in Click on the book Click on the suggestions
the list looks title – Open book title – Click on Book
intriguing. How Summary drawer Open Summary Cover – Nothing Click on Full
would you find drawer Happens – Google Display button –
out more about Speed: Fast Preview Open Summary
this book to see Speed: Fast drawer
if you wanted to Speed: Slow
request it? Speed: Fast
Participant
confused by hover

8. FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Describe Methodology
• List Areas That Tested Well and List Problem Areas
• Choose 3-4 Elements To Change
• Note 3-4 Elements To Keep Watch On or To Put On
Enhancement List
• Include Quotes
• Recommended Solutions

9. REPEAT
• Test
• Make Changes
• Test
• Make Changes
• Test
• Make Changes
• Test
• Make Changes
• Test
• Make Changes
• Retire

10. A STEP FURTHER
• Create A Scheduled, Planned Series Of Tests
• Test Mobile
• Screencapture And Audio For Stakeholders

11. SIMPLE, CHEAP, EFFECTIVE
• Space, participants, assistance and content
• Write Task, Action Oriented Questions
• Test
• Observe
• Analyze Results
• Make Changes
• Repeat

12. MY FAVORITES

13. THANK YOU!
Colleen Brazil, Content Access Manager
Sno-Isle Libraries
(360)651-7046, cbrazil@sno-isle.org
Slides available on http://www.slideshare.net/
cbrazil/effective-usability-testing-on-the-cheap-
public-view