Many web developers and business owners ignore user testing because of its time-consuming nature. However, when working on a mobile application, this is an essential stage in your app development process. Testing the usability will help you analyze problems with the application before it reaches the end-users.
Ignoring user testing may negatively affect the popularity of your mobile application. After all, you cannot launch an application when it is not ready. Testing and improving the application will save your business' reputation and increase the number of users once you launch.
Benefits of user testing for mobile application
User testing will not only benefit the business owner, but it also helps the end-user.
Benefits for the user
- Amazing experience and positive impression
- Higher satisfaction level after using the application
- Finding solutions easily with a remarkable mobile application
- Achieving goals efficiently
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Benefits for business owners
- Saving a lot of tim
- Minimizing maintenance and development costs
- Enhancing the user experience with the application
- With better user experience, more users will interact with your design
- Easily attract investors for the next project
Steps for User Testing for Mobile Apps
1. Deciding the objectives
The first step of user testing for your mobile application is to set specific goals. Without a reasonable goal, you cannot decide on the outcome. You need to decide the objectives depending on the current stage of development.
2. Writing the tasks
Once you decide what benefits you will provide your customers with the mobile application, you will design the user testing process via having them perform tasks.
3. Choosing between remote testing and lab settings
You need to decide between the two methods. The first method involves running the test through a remote system in which the user will test the application whenever they want and share the results with you.
Or, you will perform the test in your facility at a certain time, observing their body language and facial expressions while performing the test.
4. Running the test
If you perform the test in your facility, you can ask the participants about their mobile application experience as they go through different features and options. However, if you decide to run the test remotely, you can share a questionnaire (checkout our templates).
5. Organizing the data
Now, you need to collect all the data from the participants and analyze them thoroughly. For this, a simple data organization is essential. For instance, the data should include the participants' names, ID, and problems they encountered with the mobile application.
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6. Make design changes to the user experience
Once you complete user testing for the mobile application, it's time to implement changes depending on the feedback. By improving the mobile application, you enhance the user interface.
7. Sprint test the new design
After finally finishing the new design, it’s time to sprint test! Iterative, or sprint, testing the new design will give you valuable benchmarks and ensure that the product is moving in the right direction.
Remember: UX design is never finished; it's always improving.
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Conclusion
Negative feedback and criticism from real users might be hard to swallow. But you need to understand that solving these problems will upgrade your mobile application's quality and reduce the risk of app, business, and brand failure.
For instance, many web developers launch a beta version of their mobile application. They know that the complete launch of their application can negatively affect their reputation in the market.
For this reason, they release a beta version and improve the application according to the users' responses.