Changing my web design

[jamesjd7]

When you redo your website, I assume that sometimes it might turn out worse.  For example, users might just like your prior design better and thus your prior design might actually have better stats.

My blog doesn't receive a lot of hits.  I have about 1500 hits per months.  I don't think that i have enough traffic for A/B testing.  Is there a work around to see if my new blog design does better or worse?

[MarkFasel51]

Hi James,

As a usability expert and both a web designer & internet marketer, the topic of usability and the effectiveness of your website engaging and creating a memorable web experience with your audience is one that is always discussed. Whether or not your website is effectively communicating your vision, goals, ideas with your audience is the key to a successful website. To understand this, we must look at the underlying core of the website itself.

Not all websites that feature a sophisticated and classy or well designed User Interface bodes well with either SEO or Usability. In fact many websites may feature a spiffy design but just don't attract the users in a clearly defined manner.

When it comes to A/B testing, as Simon mentioned you can conduct tests at that level but as mentioned it will take much longer. As he mentioned Google's Website Optimizer is a great tool.

Another way you can easily identify weak areas of your website is through Google's Analytics. Now this can be trickier, but you can create various goals and or funnels to identify how users are progressing through your website. With this information we want to look at key areas, bounce rate, exit, time on page, time on site, etc to understand how our users are interacting and engaging.

Let's take this for example, let's say we create a landing page within our website to sell a book. We create the content, banners, images, etc. Now we can set up goals and funnels to see how or even if our users get to this area. Are we directing them clearly? If we are getting a high bounce rate or users are not even getting to this area, then something is seriously wrong with our website. So we look at usability, engagement, and interaction.

This is a basic outline of utilizing Analytics to achieve and idea of what may not be working properly for your website.

Now on to other areas of usability testing. Here are a bunch of different links / resources as well as services that can help in testing your website:

• http://www.testingscrum.com/
• http://www.totalfeedback.net/
• www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/
• http://mashable.com/2011/09/30/website-usability-tools/

One last thing, if utilizing social networks, you could ask for feedback. For instance on Facebook, ask fans to provide feedback of your website. Another option would be adding a feedback section on your website and get users to submit what they think. This is different than A/B testing but can be very useful in understanding how your website is perceived. This also creates a high level of user interaction and ensures your users that you are a real business - so Brand Development / Awareness is a supplemental achievement!

[SimonCullum]

Hi James

A good question.  1,500 visits per month is enough for A/B testing, just means that it takes longer to get any useful or conclusive results than say if you had 1,500 visits per day or week.

Check out 'Google Website Optimizer' if you haven't already, is really useful for such testing.

Hope that helps,

Regards

Simon