Testing, Round 2 – What WebDev Projects Really Look Like, Part 10
The Final Countdown
Your initial site go-live will be a “soft launch,” known only to those working on the project. First-round testing was for internal users to give the site a first run-through. But now, developers have seen the site too many times, and fresh eyes are needed.
Unleash the Gremlins!
Second-round testing is done by those who might actually use the site “in the wild.” You want to unleash the gremlins before the general public has access. As military generals have always known: “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” People will find ways to break stuff. Let them do it before it really matters. This is the last stress test before the paying client sees it, and—more importantly—sees potential customers use it.
How To Do It
If you haven't run usability testing before, or you have but found it to be a vague process without actionable outcomes, you need a firm process in place. There are many places to find established processes, but one we recommend is Just In Mind. Just over a year ago, they published their Complete Guide to User Testing, with a dozen chapters of in-depth suggestions to address and set up all facets of usability testing.