When someone starts with usability and user experience, it usually raises the question of what a heuristic assessment is, since it is one of the best methods for finding a website’s problems. Beyond what exactly consists, which we will see below, it is necessary to emphasize the reasons that make it one of the most used resources in this regard.
The first thing we can point out in this respect is that it is an extremely simple process, so much so that it can be carried out by anyone without the need to be usability expert – although it will always be better to have them. On the other hand, it is a really fast and, above all, very economical analysis about the user experience in any web.
The negative aspect of this method is that it can always give rise to errors – usability problems are considered aspects that are not and viceversa – and will never be as complete as can be carried out by someone with experience; However, the truth is that thanks to the heuristic evaluation can be found between 75% and 80% of errors in the usability of a page, which is not too bad to improve the site.
What is heuristic evaluation?
Thus, a heuristic evaluation is the analysis that is practiced on a web to find its errors in usability, but this is something that can be realized in many different forms; Then, how is it carried out in this case? Well, when it comes to performing a heuristic analysis the process takes place based on some marked principles that are followed, in addition to being carried out by several people.
On these parameters rivers of ink have been written, but the truth is that if there are some that have been followed more than others and that at the present time are, generally, the ones that are used to these effects, are those coined by Jakob Nielsen. The author proposes 10 factors to be examined in the web page in question, so that by doing step by step are the majority of possible errors that occur with regard to usability.
What does it consist of?
As we said, it is always ideal that heuristic evaluation is carried out by more than one person, usually between 3 and 5 users is usually enough, and if some of them are experts in usability and user experience obviously the results will be a lot More accurate. However, the most relevant when it comes to this type of analysis are the heuristic principles to follow. So, let’s see what these principles are according to Nielsen himself:
- The visibility of the system state, which must ensure that the user knows at all times where he is and in what situation is the page in question
- The similarity between the system and the real world it must make sure that the web uses a language that is easily understood by the users who access it.
- Control and freedom are essential factors for the user, so ensure that you can manage your actions and go back and forth without hampering the task.
- Through consistency and compliance with the standards and norms customary in the environment, the user will always feel more confident and confident, in addition to understanding everything.
- The prevention of errors for example, when filling out a form or making a payment in the system, must be a real and essential option to ensure that the user is comfortable on the web
- The use of recognition above memorisation is fundamental in a web; in fact, if it is possible to completely prevent users from having to memorise, much better.
- A flexible and efficient interface, with customisation options, will always attract more users, who feel free to choose what brings them closer to convenience.
- The simplicity of the interface. Another of the fundamental heuristic principles in web design is to eliminate any visual information that is irrelevant or merely decorative.
- Explanations to errors. When errors appear they are accompanied by their solution or some alternative related to what the user was looking for.
- Help and documentation constitute the last of the principles in a heuristic evaluation.To offer visitors what they need to understand the system and actions in a simple and accessible way.
How can we use it with our clients?
Once you have clear what the heuristic evaluation is, you just have to stop to think if it is worth it or not to carry it out on your website. As usual, knowing its importance, is to make the decision to do so, from Checkealos we put ourselves at your disposal for it.
As we have pointed out, it is not essential that experts carry out the heuristic analysis of a web page, so you can do it with your own clients. And what has this positive? Simply, that your site is for them and that your comfort depends on your success: if the conquests will stay, otherwise, they will go to the competition. And the user experience is a fundamental aspect in the conquest of customers to this day.
Checkealos
How do we help you with this from Checkealos? Finding users that match the profile of the clients you give us; then we will give you a series of tasks that will be done while browsing your web by carrying out a heuristic evaluation of it and making comments about it, which will be recorded in a video. In this way you will easily find the possible errors and you can also enhance the positive aspects of the page.
In case it does not seem sufficient and you require besides the opinion of some expert in the matter, we can also offer this service. Optimise your web page is in your hand, you only have to put in ours and, especially, those of your clients.
