Usability tests: 3 simple methods for beginners

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Usability testing isn’t about elaborate labs or thousands of dollars in budgets, it’s about simply watching real people interact with your product. For example, 5 users find 85% of UI problems (yes, this Jacob Nielsen rule still works), and half an hour of testing with one user can save weeks of development. If you’re just starting out, start small: ask friends, start a remote session via Zoom, or test a prototype on Figma – the main thing is not to wait for perfect conditions.

What are usability tests and why are they needed

Usability tests are a method of UX research, where real users perform typical tasks with a product (site, application, interface), and experts analyze how easily and intuitively they do it. The goal is not to check if you “like” the design, but to identify specific obstacles: where people get lost, press the wrong button, waste extra time, or abandon the process altogether. For example, if 70% of users do not find the “Checkout” button in 10 seconds, this is a signal that the interface needs to be changed. Such tests help to understand how the product works in real conditions, and not in the ideas of the development team.

For businesses, usability testing is an investment in conversion and loyalty. According to Baymard Institute research, 68% of users abandon the shopping cart due to a complicated checkout process. By correcting only a few critical points after tests, companies increase sales by 35-100%. Users get a product that is not annoying: fast, clear, without unnecessary clicks. For example, after testing the bank’s mobile application, it turned out that customers could not find the “Top-up” function – it was moved to the main screen, and the number of successful transactions increased by 42%.

• When are tests needed? Before launching a new product — so as not to release a “raw” interface. During the redesign, so as not to lose regular users. When conversions drop – when analytics data shows problems, but does not explain why they occur. Or just once every six months — to keep your finger on the pulse and stay ahead of your competitors.

Usability testing does not require laboratories or hundreds of respondents: even 5-7 people identify up to 85% of problems. The main thing is to watch their actions, not to listen to their opinion. Because when the user says: “Everything is clear”, but presses the wrong button three times, this is the same problem that needs to be solved.

Main benefits of usability testing

Usability testing is not just a “tick” in the development process, but a tool that directly affects the business. First, it improves UX by identifying small but critical issues: unclear buttons, confusing navigation, or overly long forms. For example, after testing the site of an online store, it is often found that users do not find the “Buy” button – and this reduces conversion by 15-30%. Second, it increases conversion: when users easily reach the goal (placed an order, registered), sales increase. Research from the Baymard Institute shows that optimizing the checkout form alone can increase conversions by 35%. Third, it reduces refusals: if a person does not understand how to use the product, he goes to competitors. Tests help identify these “leakage points” — for example, 40% of users leave a site if a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load. And finally, usability testing saves money: it is 10 times cheaper to fix errors during development than after launch. Even 5 users in the test detect 85% of problems — and this is the minimum to start with.

3 easy ways to conduct usability tests for beginners

Starting usability testing is easier than it seems. Here are three methods that don’t require a budget or special skills:

• Testing on five users. Invite 5 people from the target audience (friends, colleagues, acquaintances) and ask them to perform 2-3 key tasks on your product. Observe where delays or errors occur. As practice shows, 5 testers identify ~85% of usability problems — more participants give a minimal increase in results.
• Screen recordings with voice. Use free tools like Lookback or Hotjar to capture user actions during testing. Ask them to comment out loud what they are thinking and why they are taking this or that step. Analyze the recordings later to see real reactions, not what people think would have done.
• First impression tests. Show the design (site, app, prototype) for 5 seconds, then put it away and ask to describe what you remember. If users can’t remember the main purpose of the product or key elements, this is a signal that the interface is overloaded or unintuitive. The method is especially effective for landing pages and main screens.

Each of these methods can be done in 1-2 hours without spending money. The main thing is not to look for ideal conditions, but just to start. Even one test a month will give more insights than months of hypotheses “from the head”.

Method 1: Testing with friends and colleagues

The easiest way to test usability is to ask friends or colleagues to play the role of users. This informal testing does not require a budget, and you will get the results in a matter of hours. The main thing is not to explain to them how your product works and watch them try to figure it out on their own. Schedule 15–20 minutes per person: give a task (for example, “Find the payment button” or “Register an account”) and ask them to think aloud. Record where there are pauses, what phrases they mumble (“Where is this button?…”), how many times they click past. Record a video of the screen (with permission) – it’s easier to analyze errors later.

Key questions after the test: “What was unclear?”, “Which step caused irritation?”, “Would you have found this function without hints?”. Avoid provocative wording (“Did you like it?”) – they encourage positive responses. Better ask: “How would you describe this process in one sentence?”. With 5-7 testers, you will find 80% of critical problems: for example, if three out of five did not find the “Buy” button, it definitely needs to be redesigned. Do not idealize the results – even if acquaintances say that “everything is ok”, their actions will speak louder than words.

• Pros: fast, free, detects obvious bugs.
• Cons: friends can be too loyal or, conversely, overly critical.
• Life hack: if you are testing a mobile application, ask to use it with one hand – this way you will find problems with accessibility.

Method 2: Using online tools

Online usability testing tools are a quick way to gather real feedback without complicated organization. The most popular platforms are UserTesting, Hotjar, Maze and Lookback. Each has its strengths, but all allow you to test prototypes, sites or applications remotely, saving time and budget.

UserTesting is a market leader with a base of over 2 million testers. The platform automatically selects respondents according to the given criteria (age, profession, technical skills) and records their screens along with audio comments. For example, if you are testing a mobile application for banking, you can select users who regularly use financial services. Results arrive in 1-2 hours, and the cost starts at $50 per test. The main disadvantage is the high price for small teams.

Hotjar is a free (with limitations) tool for analyzing website behavior. It records user sessions, builds heatmaps of clicks and scrolls, and collects feedback through pop-up forms. For example, if 80% of visitors don’t make it to the “Buy” button, a heat map will show where they’re getting lost. Ideal for quick problem identification, but not suitable for in-depth interviews or prototype testing.

Maze specializes in testing prototypes (Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch). Users perform tasks, and the platform automatically generates reports with metrics: execution time, number of errors, navigation paths. For example, you can check whether the new design of the registration form is understandable by comparing the results of the two versions. The free plan allows you to conduct up to 10 tests per month, paid plans start at $75.

How to start? Choose a tool for the task: for qualitative feedback – UserTesting, for behavior analytics – Hotjar, for testing prototypes – Maze. Create a task (for example, “Find the ‘Checkout’ button and add the product to the cart”), define the target audience and run the test. Most platforms provide ready-made script templates to save you time. The main thing is not to overload the test: 3-5 tasks per session are optimal so as not to tire users.

Method 3: A/B testing the interface

A/B testing is when you show two groups of users different versions of the same UI element (like a red or green Buy button) and see which one performs better. The easiest way to start is with tools like Google Optimize (the free version is good for starting) or VWO, which allow you to run tests without writing code. Here’s how to do it right:

• Choose one element to test. Don’t try to change everything at once – just compare buttons, headers, block placement or background color. For example, test two versions of the landing page: with a long description under the button and with a short one.
• Determine a success metric. This could be a conversion (how many people clicked on a button), time on page, or number of transitions to the next step. If you sell a course, the main thing is not clicks, but real purchases.
• Run the test on a representative sample. At least 1000 visitors per variant are required for reliable results. If the traffic is small, test longer – a week or two.
• Analyze the data. Google Optimize will show which option won with statistical significance (usually 95%). If the difference between the versions is 5% or more, you can confidently choose the winner. If it is less, the test did not give a clear answer, and it is worth trying other changes.

Remember: A/B testing is not about “guessing the best option”, but about reducing risks. Even if you are sure that the red button will perform worse, the test may show the opposite – and that’s okay. The main thing is that the decision is based on data, and not on the tastes of the team. After the first tests, try to make the task more difficult: compare not only colors, but also micro-copies (“Buy now” vs “Checkout”) or the location of elements (button on the left or right of the form).

How to correctly analyze the results of usability tests

Analysis of usability test results begins with data systematization. Collect all recordings (videos, screenshots, moderator notes) and distribute them according to test scenarios. For example, if 6 out of 10 users are stuck on the same screen, this is a clear signal. Use tables or tools like Miro or Airtable to visualize issues: columns for scenarios, rows for contributors, cells for bugs or comments. So you will immediately see which stages cause the most difficulties.

The next step is to identify key issues. Look for repeating patterns: the same mistakes, long pauses, irritation in the voice (if the test is audio-recorded). For example, if 40% of users don’t find the “Checkout” button, even though it’s in a prominent place, it’s not their fault, it’s yours. Classify problems by type: interface (unintelligible icons), functional (bug in the work of filters) or content (confusing instructions). Write them according to the formula: “The user could not [action] because [reason]” – it will be easier to formulate tasks for the team.

Now prioritize the changes. Rate each issue on two criteria: user impact (how critical) and difficulty to fix (how much time/resources are required). For example, a bug due to which 70% of users cannot pay for an order is P0 (fixed immediately), and an unclear icon in the menu is P2 (can be postponed). Use a priority matrix: X-axis is impact, Y-axis is complexity. The most important tasks will be in the upper right corner. Remember: not all problems should be solved immediately – focus on those that block the main scenarios (registration, purchase, search).

Finally, create a report that will be useful for the team. The structure is simple: short summary (1-2 sentences about the main issues), top 3 critical bugs with examples (videos/screenshots), recommendations (what to fix and how) and appendices (raw data for those who want to dig deeper). Do not overload the report with numbers – leave only what will affect the decision. For example: “8 out of 10 users did not notice the ‘Unsubscribe’ button – we suggest increasing its size by 30% and adding hover animation.” The report should answer the question: “What to do next?” and not just state the facts.

Common mistakes during usability testing

The most common mistake of beginners is to test friends or colleagues. They already know the product, are used to the interface and will not pay attention to critical issues. Instead, involve real users: even 5 strangers will identify 85% of usability problems. Another common mistake is to ask leading questions. Instead of “Are you comfortable using filters?” ask, “How do you search for a product by price?” — so you will get honest answers, not confirmation of your hypotheses.

Many beginners ignore the silence during the test. Silence of the user is not a failure, but a signal: he does not know what to do next. Instead of prompting (“Click here!”), ask, “What do you expect to see at this point?” So you will understand where the interface does not correspond to the mental model of the audience. Don’t forget the technical nuances: screen recording without sound or poor video quality will make you re-watch the test. Use proven tools (Maze, UserTesting) or at least make sure that the microphone and camera are working before starting the session.

• Confirmation bias: when you only look for what you want to see. To avoid this, involve an outside observer – he will notice what you missed.
• Too many tasks: 10-15 minutes of the test is optimal. More — and the user gets tired, the results become less reliable.
• Ignoring the context: testing a mobile application on a desktop is like judging the taste of coffee by smell. Always test on the devices the product was designed for.

Conclusion: How to start usability testing today

Starting usability testing is easier than it seems. Choose one of the three methods described — for example, the “5-second test” — and run it today with a colleague or friend. Write down the results: what was unclear, what elements raised doubts. Even 3-5 tests will give more insights than months of theorizing. If you’re working on a product, start with the most critical screen: registration, cart, or home page. Remember that usability is not a one-time action, but a process. Set up regular checks: for example, test new features or a changed design once a month. Use free tools like Maze or UserTesting to automate data collection. The main thing is not to wait for perfect conditions. Start small, analyze the results and improve the product step by step. Your users will feel the difference after the first changes.