With over 2 million apps in the App Store, it’s safe to assume that the “build it, and they will come” strategy won’t be enough to make your app a big hit. In this post, we will be discussing 5 Simple Ways to Conduct User Testing for Mobile Applications.
Mobile app testing is one of the most effective ways to improve your application. App user testing is a method of evaluating your app’s usability, functionality, user experience, and design; by allowing real people to use it. The real question that user testing answers are: can my app be efficiently utilised to satisfy its intended purpose (i.e., can my users use my app effortlessly to achieve their goals?).
Definition of Mobile app testing & why is it crucial for your app’s success?
Mobile app user testing is an essential element of the app development process; some developers may skip it due to its seeming ease.
Developers are intimately familiar with the inner workings of their software; and therefore will often struggle to evaluate it objectively as a new user might.
Testing an app with real users may reveal that the “save to recipe book” button is difficult to locate or that the button’s icon is incomprehensible to the average user. Outsiders may find brand colours that developers adore strange; while developers may find navigation menus that appear streamlined to be overly complex or cluttered for users.
While user testing may appear to be apparent and excessive, it is pretty essential. Early beta testing can alert developers to severe flaws that could be disastrous once the software is released.
User testing provides invaluable information to design and improve your app to its highest level of perfection.
How to conduct mobile app user testing?
Some may feel that app user testing is an expensive endeavour. While laboratories and high-end equipment can be costly, there are many cost-effective ways to do usability testing.
We’ve compiled a list of the 5 best simple & cost-effective strategies and tools for app user testing that won’t break the money.
These testing methodologies will identify your app’s strong and weak features, pointing you in the right direction for improvement so you can outperform the competition.
Ask feedback from your Networks
It’s critical to make the most of what you already have when it comes to a blend of simple and low-cost user testing. If you took the effort to build an email list; you already have a terrific group of beta testers waiting for you.
Send out a rallying cry to your email list, inviting them to beta test your app. They’ve already started following you, so they’re probably enormous admirers.
If not for pro bono and bragging rights, many people will cheerfully provide honest reviews in exchange for an Amazon gift card.
Usability Testing Apps
Recording beta testers’ screen flows and tracking what they click on and how they navigate is one popular method of app user testing.
Where do people end up when they go between screens? Is it true that users wind up travelling in the direction you want them to? Why do you think that is? These types of inquiries can expose critical flaws in your software.
Some apps employ software that allows you to track a user’s screen flow as well as their facial expressions as they browse through the app. Observing a user’s facial expressions and listening to what they have to say about their experience while using your app can add another layer to the testing process.
Many testers like to film app user testing sessions in order to keep track of how a user interacts with and responds to the app.
Ideally, you should keep track of three things:
- Screen of the Mobile Application while user navigating the app.
- The moment user interacts with the app, a video feed of the user has to be captured.
- Feedback is everything; Record User’s audio to grab their mindset towards your app.
You might be able to do this manually, or you might employ a user testing recording program. Among which the possibilities are:
The InVision Viewer App, which provides free beta mobile user testing (which you can download free at the AppStore). Users may test your app on their iPhone as InVision records their interactions, facial expressions, and speech!
UX Recorder is a comparable iPhone software that allows testers to record a user’s interactions, face, and audio while they traverse your app.
However, the program has mixed reviews on the AppStore, so you might want to look into alternative possibilities.
User Testing is a highly recommended tool for video recording and testing apps, websites, prototypes, and more. You may access over one million virtual testers through User Testing, and you can even use audience targeting to ensure you’re getting input from the best users.
Take Physical Notes while testing
Tools like InVision and User Testing are fantastic, but pen and paper will suffice. If you want to quickly revisit your testing sessions for any findings you may have missed, video recording is perfect. However, sharp eyes and a pen are also helpful.
Taking physical notes rather than making recordings might also help you stay focused on your test subjects; allowing you to notice small details that you would miss on film.
Follow a script
Make sure your script answers your research questions when creating it and accomplish by converting your research questions into assignments that reflect realistic user objectives. Create a user story for each job to make it more realistic for the participant. Any interview questions you’d like addressed, as well as prompts for follow-up inquiries and debriefing questions, should all be included in your script.
Include clear and comprehensive instructions on how to access the app. Rather than telling participants to download your program from the App Store, write out the entire procedure.
Set up a relevant environment
The tools and environment you use for testing are determined by the method you use. In-person testing allows you complete control over your testing environment; whereas the quality of the tools you use will have a greater impact on your participants’ remote testing experience.
The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a location for your in-person exam is locating a space that is devoid of distractions. Distractions such as loud noises, unexpected visits, and other interruptions can cause sessions to be disrupted and test findings to be skewed.
Try using a quiet conference room with the door closed to keep our participants focused on their jobs and to ensure that our recordings don’t pick up any unwanted noises.
Also, keep the limited number of people in the room during testing, a moderator, and a note-taker to a bare minimum. When there are multiple people in the room watching them, they become nervous.
Bottom Line
Once implemented correct, user testing ensures that your software meets your users’ expectations, needs, and desires. Without it, there’s no way to know if you’re on the correct road during the design and development phase.
We hope that this guide provides you with a solid foundation to construct a successful user testing approach.
If you wish to learn more about our user testing services and mobile app development; you may contact us for further assistance & our professional team will provide you with the best solution. Let’s Talk!
