Usability Metrics Foundations
In our research on usability metrics, we found a number of key indicators that show the usage and user behaviors that have helped many webmasters and website designers develop a better delivery of content, to allow users to both consume information effectively, and to provide the key actions as determined by the marketing department.
Usability Metrics
Measuring Website Usability
Website usability is largely ignored by most of the websites online. Usually, it is the creative departments that determine the look and feel of a site, and from that, a design is made, and very little attention is paid to how users actually interact with the site.
Website usability metrics changes all that, by providing a structured framework in which key analytical data is acquired and analyzed in order to find a measure of business results obtained.
If your website measures key indicators such as page navigation, time on site, scroll rate, and indicators showing how far a user reads, or views a media file…these are all ways to determine usability.
Task Success Rate
In areas where tasks are meant to be performed, getting the task successfully completed is another way to determine usability. For instance, if a form has optional fields of information, how does it affect task success rate if they are removed? What is the business result of removing these fields? In some cases, the data requested can increase the lifetime value of a customer, but if requesting that data lowers your customer acquistion by 17%, then the numbers need to be run to determine if the data is requested or omitted.
Quesenberry Usability Metrics
The Quesenberry usability metrics have widely been regarded as a best practice when using usability metrics to drive business results and optimize website performance. In fact, by following this process, usability metrics have been found to both be more accurately acquired, and also analyzed correctly, in that user experience is optimized while business goals are met or exceeded.
There is no better thing for a website, than to meet its objectives, and connect with its users to provide a pleasant and well appreciated experience. It can be something as simple as determining your primary audience is 50+, and designing the site to use larger fonts because of that. It is a minor adjustment that provides major pleasure and comfort to the users, which creates better results for everyone involved.
Measuring the Usability of Web Sites
Here are some key measurements you can use to determine usability of your web site:
Multimedia viewing time
Comment Ratio
User Activity
Response Rate to actions
Time on Site
Social Interaction
Direct Traffic Referrals
Scroll Patterns
Goal Achievement
Profits
Visitor Return Rate
Of course, this list is not comprehensive, and we invite you to order our Usability Metrics report so that you can fully utilize the latest findings in usability metrics, to reach your business goals and objectives and provide optimal user satisfaction.
