Precisely evaluating user-friendliness is a difficult project for any Website. Usability study techniques have been applied with proven success to Web sites.
Formal Usability Studies
Unfortunately, formal usability tests are challenging to set up, and can be prohibitively expensive.
Inspection Based Usability Studies
However, the good news is that inspection-based usability testing and website reviews are clearly as effective as formal, experimental testing, and are far more straightforward (meaning you get the results faster) and cost-effective (meaning you can afford and justify the investment).
A Constructive Critique
A web site review is simply an unstructured inspection by a third party (that's us), primarily focusing on the web site's usability, layout and structure. It's a challenging but worthwhile effort for ambitious website owners to look for reviewers who can apply experience (both in Internet use and marketing) and business knowledge to undertake a thoughtful review of your site, offering usable, realistic, constructive suggestions for improvement.
Effects On Conversion Rates
The bottom line is - the impact your website's current layout, styling and structure has on the possibility of him/her (the reviewer) buying whatever it is that the website actually sells - the big question is: Would he or she be compelled to buy? If the reviewer wouldn't, then you need to know why.
Things You Need To Know
What would prevent the sale or encourage the sale? If the reviewer does not like the website, then will be no wiser without an explanation as to why. You also need to know what, if anything, interrupts the reader's "buying process" and, again, why. Without an explanation and constructive suggestions, the website review is almost useless.
The Ego-Centered Review
One of the big difficulties faced by a lot of website designers is that they don't really want to hear the client's opinion and certainly not the opinion of a third-party reviewer. Have you ever noticed how quickly the designer explains to you how the new features work, how that new fancy widget works on your website? That's because he/she dreads the feedback from you saying "I can't use it so how will the readers know how to use it"... When we review your web site and assess the competitive potential, we always ask for egos to be put aside before sending our comments, we are totally upfront and frank about what needs changing on the site in order to enjoy long-term success. Even at the cost of upsetting the designer...
Your Website Review will be Specific, Balanced, Honest and Solution-Based
Of course you want an honest review, written by someone who understands what works. You get nothing but honesty. You get a balanced review - we tell you the good and the not so good so that you know what not to change. We are very specific when we make recommendations and explain why we're making them. And - without solutions the review would be pointless so we always provide realistic and straightforward advice about what you should do. And...
We Provide Support Too!
We don't just dump a review on your lap and forget about you. You need a bit of help, all you need to do is ask. Along with all website reviews we provide an email based technical support service so, should you need a bit of guidance along the way, we provide it.
"How much does a website review cost" I can hear you shouting...
Starting at just £199 the cost of a website review is (most likely) less than the value of sales you'll lose today - and every day until you know how to get more customers.
Why not just ask a friend? Do I really need an independent review? |
