Why would I want to conduct usability testing on my site?
There's little room for debate that people are impressed by user-friendly websites. Just look at nearly any advertisement for a website and it's bound to contain the words 'simple,' 'fast,' or 'easy.' Companies who want to retain their online customers and grow their business make usability a priority. Testing a website with its actual users is so important because even the most experienced designers and information architects can not predict how a target audience will use a site. Therefore, we here at Sharpe Insights believe that the creation or redesign of every website should include a round or two of usability testing. We have yet to conduct testing on a site that has not resulted in recommendations for improving its navigation, content, functionality, and overall value.

What is scalable usability testing?
Certain aspects of a usability project cannot be compromised: a quality test plan, an experienced moderator, qualified test participants, and an insightful & comprehensive findings and recommendations report.

However, Sharpe Insights knows that many elements associated with usability testing can in fact be scaled, depending on the particulars of the project. For example, we've gotten pretty creative coming up with viable alternatives for recruiting the test participants, using a variety of suitable testing locations, and providing a range of filming options.

So whether you're a start-up company or a Fortune 500 company, we'll work with you to put together a package that best meets your own unique needs, budget, and timeline.

I've heard that usability testing can be conducted online. Should I consider this?
Unless your target audience lives in extremely remote locations, Sharpe Insights does not recommend online usability testing. During an online usability test, users are instructed to complete tasks on a site and are required to offer their feedback via an online form similar to a survey. This form of research is conducted in the user's home or office and without the assistance of a test moderator. At Sharpe Insights, we believe that online testing is not an effective method for evaluating the usability of a site. The ability of a moderator to develop a rapport with the participants, view their facial expressions, observe where they look on a page, and ask spontaneous probing questions are all key elements to a successful usability study. Therefore, we do not support or conduct online usability testing.

Why would I want to consider a website analysis?
When budget or time constraints render usability testing impossible, we recommend website analyses. During a website analysis, the usability specialists at Sharpe Insights, as opposed to your target audience, conduct tasks on your site. The resulting findings and recommendations are based on our experience conducting usability tests and our knowledge of usability best practices.

When should I have my website tested or evaluated?
We recommend testing a site at any point during the design process, as long as time is available to make changes. Generally, the best time to test a site is before the backend technology has been built. That way, the inevitable changes you'll want to make will be easier and less costly.

How many rounds of usability testing is recommended?
If major changes to your interface are made after the first round of testing, a second round of testing to validate the changes is always a good idea. If two rounds of testing is not an option, we would recommend a website analysis in place of that second round.

How many people should I test?
That depends on the profile(s) of your target audience. If the site has a small targeted audience, we might recommend one day of testing six to seven users. However, if your site has a broader reach, we'd probably recommend at least two full days of testing so that we can hear feedback from three to four representatives of each profile.

Why should I hire Sharpe Insights?
We are passionate about what we do. We are good at what we do. And we are committed to offering less expensive and faster alternatives to traditional methods of testing so that any site can benefit from user feedback.

But don't take our word for it. Here's a link to some customer testimonials >>

How long have you been in business?
Suzy Sharpe started Sharpe Insights in May 2001.

Where are you located?
We are based in New York City; however, we can test any place there's a computer and a willing participant. Some of the cities where we've tested include Austin, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.