How to Do Usability Testing Cheap and Fast

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 PM | Category: Business, Customer Service, Meryl's Notes Blog, Tech 2 comments

Bill Moore of RadioTime shared his experience of gathering feedback from users in a sandwich shop. It’s amazing how easy it is to get user feedback with zero overhead, that’s cheap, and leads to actionable results.

radiotime logo How to Do Usability Testing Cheap and Fast

I asked him why didn’t he go to the (in)famous coffee shop since their wi-fi usually works well (wi-fi in the sandwich place was flaky). He said the coffee shop is louder. At the sandwich shop, people stay longer and the tables are bigger.

RadioTime.com offers a free complete guide to radio and sells a product that lets you record radio just like TiVO records TV. When doing on location testing, consider the following:

  1. Pay attention to time and setting: People are less likely to be in a hurry at lunchtime than in the morning before work, for example.
  2. Make testing clear before starting: Be upfront about time commitment, what you’re doing and why, what the user will do, and any other relevant information. RadioTime lets the user know that there’s nothing to download.
  3. Keep notes: Be ready by having a form and a clipboard. Perhaps, consider recording the user’s feedback with a non-intrusive recorder. Use a clipboard in case you can’t access the table when making notes.
  4. Talk with the store manager: This assures the store that you’re not doing anything suspicious and plus you’re building a relationship.
  5. Wear logo or display company badge: Helps with trust and credibility.

Here’s what Bill said about doing testing in the sandwich shop.

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