Your website might look great, but does it work? In this ultimate guide, we’ll show you how to use website testing tools like heatmaps, 5-second tests, and user surveys to find out what truly clicks with your users!
Sr. UXR Manager
Let’s be honest: a great-looking website is simply not enough.
88% of users don’t return to a site after a poor experience(Source: AWS).
The solution? Website test prototypes and live websites to discover what’s working—or not.
5-second tests, heatmaps, and video feedback are easy tools to understand user behavior and catch hidden problems before frustrating users.
If you are really trying to create a better experience, testing is key, whether it’s an early-stage prototype or a live site.
Ready to go beyond aesthetics?
This guide will show you how to test everything: from design mockups to live sites.
Elevate your product by tapping into genuine user experiences! Start using UXArmy for effective remote usability testing
Website testing assesses your site experience through evaluating its design, usability, and how visitors interact with it.
You may ask… What does website testing get you?
You get to:
So, not convinced yet? How about a little story?
Imagine every item you have in your shopping cart disappearing into thin air. Poof!
Well, that happened to Target back in 2011. They became the target of major online backlash because their mobile site had usability issues—users couldn’t even check out!
The culprit? Poor website testing.
And the result? Wasted time and money fixing the site.
Now, take Booking.com—they continually conduct A/B tests to refine their designs based on user behavior, staying ahead in the travel space.
Moral of the story: Don’t waste either time or money; build a site your users love through website testing.
Newsflash: Website testing isn’t just for the end—do it throughout the development lifecycle!
Here’s when:
At this stage, testing helps you to see how users interact with your initial prototypes, to ensure that your design aligns with their expectations from the start.
What to test: Wireframes, prototypes, and early designs.
How to test:
During this phase, website functionality and user flows start taking shape. Testing ensures that your core flows work as intended, and highlights areas of refinement.
What to test: Critical user flows, like navigation paths or complex tasks (e.g., checkout).
How to test:
These phases are the most critical—their goal is to ensure that your website is fully polished and functional for real users.
Pre-Launch Testing:
Post-Launch Testing:
Bottom line…
Test early, test often. You will thank yourself for saving the time later otherwise!
Choosing the right website testing technique depends on your goal.
There’s no cookie cutter solution, so let’s dissect it!
Let users take the wheel while you sit back and watch the magic unfold.
Roll up your sleeves and deep-dive with users to get to the heart of their experience.
Want to know how users feel? Send out a survey and get the scoop!
A fun scavenger hunt to test your site’s navigation.
Think of it like Tetris but for your website’s content.
Everything regarding testing pertains to knowing what works for YOUR users and what could use some tweaking.
Use the correct technique—and you may just gain the insight necessary to improve your site!
We do not just get a well-performing website by sheer luck. It’s the result of careful iteration and testing over time; in which our check-list will guide you to fulfill—be it for existing sites or newer prototypes.
Pre-Test:
During the Test:
Post-Test:
Website testing does not have to be overwhelming. Take it a step at a time and with continuous iterations, your users (and your metrics) will thank you!
Website testing doesn’t have to feel like a wild goose chase.
With the right steps, it can be a smooth ride to producing a site your users will love.
Here’s how:
Testing tools can make or break the experience of YOUR users, which eventually piles up in the dollars of your balance sheet.
So, if you really are considering optimizing your site… Time to get the right tools in the right hands.
Here are some of the best website testing tools you should consider:
Finding the right testers isn’t about the quantity; it’s about the relevance.
Here’s how to find your dream team.
Start by building realistic profiles of your users.
What are their needs? Demographics? What makes them tick?
For example, are they folks that are not well-versed with technology? Or are they busy professionals looking for a quick checkout?
Knowing your audience will guide you to recruit the RIGHT people.
Here’s the fun part. Think beyond your friends and family, or your cousin that tells you that they know ‘just a little bit’ about websites.
It’s time to reach out to niche communities, local panels, or even send out targeted ads to your target market.
Not sure where or how? If you are testing in a foreign market for the first time, it may be difficult for you to find a relevant group of testers.
UXArmy goes as far as helping you with location-based recruitment, giving you incredibly valuable, relevant feedback.
A good test starts off with the right participants. Weed out participants that do not match your personas with a pre-screening survey.
Ask questions about their demographics, their lifestyles or how familiar they are with your product types. Make sure they fit the bill before you start the ball rolling!
All in all, skipping these steps might cost you valuable, targeted feedback for your site. In turn, you may get generic or even worse, irrelevant insights that will cost you in the future.
Careful recruitment ensures your testers give feedback that is worth its weight in gold.
Remember: great testers lead to great testing, ultimately leading to greater websites.
Join countless professionals in simplifying your user research process and delivering results that matter
Website testing is a must to create a user-friendly, successful site. Regular testing improves usability, reduces errors, and boosts conversions.
Key takeaways:
Want to optimize your website and get real user insights?
UXArmy helps you test smarter with tools like card sorting, tree testing, and surveys.
Start testing your site with UXArmy today!
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