Usability reviews
I've spent hundreds of hours in usability labs watching people use web sites. I'll review your site and give you practical, actionable recommendations to make your web site more effective.
Making sure your web site is well-organized and easy to use is extremely important, and often the most overlooked aspect of site design. My usability review is a great way to get an objective opinion of your site's ease-of-use.
It's difficult for most companies' employees ("insiders") to evaluate the true ease-of-use of their web site. Internal evaluation is often sufficient for first-passes, but an expert usability review is necessary to make sure your web visitor's experience is a positive one.
I don't just review labels and page copy for clarity, I look at the entire experience of the page. I consider where the user likely came from and what they are looking for to determine the recommendations I make for your site.
The usability review focuses on the design and copy on a page, the layout of the components, clarity of labels and wording, navigation (entry and exit paths), HTML and CSS validity, page weight and download time, and more. I can also evaluate your site for Section 508 compliance and accessibility.
I will review your site and produce a report listing the issues, making actionable and clear recommendations on how to fix the issues. I can also point you to resources for further reading and research.
Additionally, I highly recommend testing all usability enhancements (mine or anyone else's). I can help you test the changes by showing you how to "hook up" the changes to a web analytics program or I can provide an analytics system for you to use for your tests.
Commonly asked questions about my usability review
Does the usability review require input from my company?
Generally, I can complete a usability review without much (if any) input from your company. Occasionally, I like to know more information about your company and your visitors so I can provide a better assessment. If you are requesting a usability review for an intranet, I will definitely need to spend some time with your staff.
I already have an internal usability guru or design manager. What can you provide above and beyond their knowledge?
Company insiders often can identify many usability issues, but hiring me to complete a usability review will provide a third party, objective look at your web interface. Think of my usability review as a "second opinion." Unlike a usability guru or web designer, I will also look at underlying business logic and process flow to make sure your application or web interface is as customer-friendly as possible.
I have provided usability advice for companies of all types—ecommerce companies, online retailers, real estate companies, non-profits and more, including intranet and internet applications. This breadth of experience will help catch issues your staff will often not find.
Can you provide ongoing usability support?
Yes, I can provide support and assessments on an ongoing basis. As you make changes to the interfaces you are developing, I can provide usability testing support or assessments to ensure the changes you are making are the right ones.