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The number one factor that makes or breaks your website is whether people can use This is usually referred to as usability of your site that seems simple. If people can not do what you want to do (buy things, subscribe to things, request a call, etc.), they will not. However, because sites are so easy to change, just create several companies websites, web applications, e-newsletters, etc., and we hope the changes will help their business.

What further confuses, this is typically a lack of clear understanding of the performance of your website. For example, how your website to convert visitors into buyers? What are the key decisions that visitors must do on your website? ? Did you give them the information and tools needed to make these decisions

This article will help you focus on 3 proven techniques to improve the performance of your website. Web site analysis, usability testing, and the characters exactly how you choose to apply these techniques is obviously up to you But one thing is certain. all three techniques to help you get closer to the people who visit your website. their needs, desires, and behaviors This information is essential if you plan to optimize the usability of your website to achieve your goals.

1. Measuring progress with Website Analytics

Many companies mistakenly install a standard “website statistics” of the program and have only a group of standard reports. Typically, these reports do little to help you judge the true effectiveness of your website.

You want to get a jumpstart on creating your own web site analytics simply follow these 3 easy steps: ..

1 Begin with the end in mind – begin to define your goals your goals site marketing strategy (ie, “Increase the number of qualified leads from search engines on the web”), and what you want your website visitors to do to achieve those objectives (ie “See our list of the top 10 in Google and click on it)

2. Get in touch with your visitors’ behavior on your website. Track how many visitors you get, and how long they stay on your site (including the number of page views). You want all those numbers up, since it means that you get more visitors staying on site longer. You are maximizing the chances they will do what you want them to do.

3. Expand your conversion rate. Track how many visitors the action only affects you want them to do and compare that number to your total number of visitors. This helps you determine your conversion rate. For example, if 15 of the 100 visitors requested more information from you (and this is one of your goals), your conversion rate of inquiries is 15%.

Once these tests key site in place, you can start to develop your monitoring and compare trends to optimize two examples:.

• Say you notice any higher conversion rates at the weekend then you might want to spend more online advertising on weekends and reduce your expenses during the. week.
• Let’s say you need more visitors and engage in a project to optimize search engine to improve your ranking. Then you can follow the increase or decrease the flow of visitors from the activities of your project.

Whatever you want to achieve, getting to the ease of use begins first website with robust website analytics. Why? Because web analytics require you to identify the areas that matter most, and how well or poorly you do in them. Once you know this, you are armed with key information that can help you focus your efforts and determine where things like usability testing can help the most.

2. Leverage usability testing

usability is where you take people who use your website, and watch with her. In general, you ask the person to do things on the site, and you look at either the shoulder, behind one-way mirror or via another computer where you can see what is recorded on the test computer.

It is amazing how many things you can do better your website only by the people who look to use it. Yet, as you enter, you may find that hiring a professional for a usability testing project may be unnecessary. professionals in the Usability expensive are useful because they generally have considerable expertise in planning and implementation of tests and test results interpretation, however, usability tests should not be fancy or formal:. people will give you their opinion if you ‘re sitting in a research or Starbucks. Be careful when hiring a professional who seems to make the testing process complicated or costly. When someone does this, c is usually only for their own financial gain.

To carry out a usability test, just follow these 5 steps:

1 Define your objectives Start by the end in mind What do you do usability testing with it … do you have specific areas of your website that you want to improve? If yes, this is a great way to get ideas on how to make these areas more. Are you planning on deploying a new area of your website? A usability test is an excellent way to make a “trial” before the big launch.

2. To recruit participants. It will take more time, and perhaps the most frustrating part of the testing process. You must find people to participate (which can be difficult, especially if you need to match profiles demographics), then you need to program them. Then, some to cancel, some do not appear, and some will be of great trial participants. The best way to get a feel for the person to talk to them more directly than once over the phone. TIP: Make sure you call the person on the day of the event to remind them about it

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3. Script testing. You want to have a script intro, the test script, and post-test survey. The script is introduced a list of things you want to be sure to cover with the person before starting the test. TIP: During the part, try to focus on the decisions of the person at ease to express their opinion, and I recall that any reaction is good feedback The next part, the test script is a list of real things that you want. the person to do. It is followed by the post-test survey, which allows you to ask someone, and later to compare the responses to what they said during the test.

4 . Perform the test. This is the fun part! You sit down at the person and guide them through the test case. Some of the benefits of testing by “holding hands” while others take advantage of let the person do anything they just seems entirely dependent on the objectives, and the information you want to collect In both cases, the best thing to do is to record both the person and what that they are doing on the computer TIP: … Be sure to compensate the person for their time.

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5 Report of Results The best way to report results is twofold. First, make a quick, one page or less summary of each session immediately after the test this way, information is still fresh in the .. come alive “: TIP Include your mind an image of the user in your resume because it will help to make comments of that person then take the information gathered during the tests and create from January to April” characters “- user profiles that explain the type of person, what they need on the site, what are the issues they encounter frequently on the site, and what can be changed to help them. This will help explain the results to others, and you can use these figures later when you are adding or updating parts of your website.

How many people should I test?
For most usability testing, you can learn the maximum amount of ten tests. Too much more and you’ll begin to see too many recurring motifs. If you go less than ten, you might miss things or not seeing enough of a reason.

3. Developing Personas

Let’s face it – no one reads a report usability of 20 pages from cover to cover. He simply can not. Usually, the main decision makers seek to “recall” presentations, and then “within the” one or two key points of the study, citing that time and time again

This presents a great opportunity. why not give the key decision makers something memorable? Enter personas.

Personas are a way to involve everyone thinks of real people who visit your site
What Personas are.

Fake People based on actual data

A handy tool to maintain focus on your target customers

One way to take your data life and be more memorable

What Personas are not:

Each customer can profile />

The replacement of existing ways we design and build our website

user testing reports that personas are a great way to

1. Get the key decision makers on board with the concept
persona 2. Communicate issues website in the context of people using your site

Creating personas from data usability testing is time consuming but very valuable Just look through the data key trends:. what are the common roles, objectives and actions do you see? Can you combine the ratings along these things? You will soon start to evolve from a handful of characters that can be refined over time. Add a name and some pictures of this “person” and you “will be on your way to creating an experience of more website user-centric

Again, exactly how you choose to implement. <-! nextpage -> these techniques is obviously yourself in small steps. can have a big impact. You do not have super-sophisticated web analytics, test your website with 100 users, or develop very detailed personas. Every step you take in these three areas, no matter how big or small, will help you get more from your site and your marketing strategy websites.

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