Lessons Learned 136

This week’s final blog assignment is to summarize three main points learned in this class.

Usability, usability, usability. Done.

1. Usability is a very important aspect of websites.

No matter how great a product is, a great website will help it go much further. When users have to fight through a poorly designed website, they will not enjoy their experience. If a person does not enjoy their experience, they will most likely look for a new or different one.

2. Branding has a lot to do with how your product or services appear to consumers.

A brand will help develop customer’s opinion of a product. It may be the only thing they base a purchasing decision on. Do they understand your brand? Does it make sense to the audience you are trying to attract? Why do they like it? Did they have to think about it, or did it just make them feel good or trust in it (you)?

3. Usability Tests should be done early and often, they will pay in spades.

During the usability testing I read that a person should test early and often. Did it sink in? NO. I understood it conceptually. A dry run or a practice run is not a new concept to me. When I actually conducted my usability test, the mistakes and problems that could have easily been corrected, became very clear.

The usability test should have a clear schedule of pre-tests built in from the beginning. The pre-test should be conducted directly after the concept is developed. It should be conducted again after the first corrections are made. It should be done at every stage of development.

It will only make the website better. Wasn’t that the goal in the first place?