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Summary
By William Channer | 8 July 2011 | Length: 34 mins Steve Krug explains how to conduct usability tests and why getting user feedback is a recipe for disaster. We also use the Dorm Room Tycoon website as a case study so that you can understand how his mind works.Sponsored By
Steve Krug
Conducting your own Usability Tests
Advice
Just do it, as the Nike ads say. If you haven’t done usability testing, your site is nowhere near as good as it can be. Keep the testing as simple as possible, so you actually do it. Testing with three users will expose more serious problems than you can fix in a month. And *don’t* put off fixing serious problems just because they’re going to be fixed in your planned redesign. Tweak them right now. (There’s always a tweak that can mitigate a serious problem, even if it doesn’t fix it perfectly.)
Steve Krug is the author of Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, now in its second edition with over 300,005 copies in print, and the recently published guide to do-it-yourself usability testing, Rocket Surgery Made Easy. He has also started a new forum for people to discuss do-it-yourself testing. As a usability consultant previous clients have included Apple, Bloomberg.com, Lexus.com, NPR, the International Monetary Fund, and many others.
Facts
Born : Long Island, NY in the 1950's
Education : Boston College, English Lit
Favorite Book : Getting Things Done by David Allen
Favorite Film : Magnolia (this month)
Favorite Gadget : The DVR (e.g. Tivo)
Favorite Meal : Chicken pot pie (my wife's recipe) and a beer
Favorite Music : Psychedelic string band (e.g. Holy Modal Rounders)
Favorite Place : Probably Martha's Vineyard (islands are hard to beat)
Favorite Software : My Life Organized & Word Lens
Favorite Website : Google
First Job : Proofreader
Role Model : Al Franken (or Drew Barrymore)






