Usability testing

I don't mention much about work here - so thought I'd add this picture of me "in action". Here I am at "The Usability Company" late last year where we did usability testing on our new sites. It's an interesting process - the Usability Co gets people who represent your target audience to perform real life tasks on your site. In this way, you get to identify any areas where they get stuck or confused. It's a real life eye opener to see users clicking around "your baby", especially when they get lost or confused in ways that you never dreamed of. You get to watch them (as I am here) from behind a one way mirror. It is also vieo-taped, and you can watch the user's face (for signs of frustration and confusion!) on a big screen, along with their mouse clicks on the site. Very scientific - and useful. After all, if your user can't find what they're looking for on your site, you're doing more damage that good to your company's brand. And competitors are just one click away...