From Apply Now,
Your Guide to Web Usability.
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One of the best ways to improve the usability and performance of your site is to have it reviewed by your audience and / or experts in the field. As it allows users to identify weaknesses and potential areas of improvement you may not be aware of. Some great places to start getting user feedback are:

• Online Surveys
  Online surveys are a great way of gaining user insight as it solicits responses from actual visitors of the site. However, how and when they’re used need to be taken into account as their completion rates tend to be low. What’s important to remember is that the design, length and when they’re displayed all need to be considered if their usability is to improve.


• Conducting user tests
  User testing can be very effective as it monitors and records the actions of users as they travel through a site. By evaluating their actions and having them speak their thoughts out loud you can discover the frustrations they encounter as well what they find easy to use. This can then guide the improvements you implement to improve the usability of your site.


• Focus Groups
  Focus Groups are a method of user testing where ‘pre-selected’ subjects are involved in collaborative discussions about a topic. For a site review, Focus Groups work best when users have experience with the website as well as suggestions on what they think works and what can be improved.


• Utilize Experts (Heuristic Evaluations)
  Another option is to have experts review your site because at times it can be difficult to understand the results of user tests or focus group discussions, so having an expert walk through the site guarantees a comprehensive evaluation due to the experience they bring.