Usability Testing Made Simple(ish): Best Methods to Try Today

Let’s be honest — we’ve all used a product that made us want to launch our laptop into space. That’s where usability testing comes in. Whether you're designing the next big app, running a service, or trying to stop your checkout page from losing customers faster than you can say “abandoned cart”, usability testing helps you understand how real users experience your product; the good, the bad, and the "why is this button here?"

In this friendly deep-dive, we’ll unpack the best usability testing methods, why they matter, and how to use them without crying into your wireframes.

Why Usability Testing Is Your Product’s Secret Weapon

At its core, usability testing is just you, your product, and a user who’s (hopefully) not too shy to say, “This makes no sense.” By observing how users interact with your product, you can:

• Make things easier to use: Happy users tend to stick around.

• Reduce churn: If it’s easy, they’ll come back.

• Win more love: Better usability means more glowing reviews and fewer rage-tweets.

It’s a brilliant way to move beyond guesswork and into the land of evidence-based design. And trust me, it’s a much nicer place to live.

The Top Usability Testing Methods (With Perks and Pitfalls)

Here are the all-stars of usability testing; each one with a personality of its own.

1. Moderated Usability Testing

Best for: Early-stage testing where you want deep, rich feedback
You (or your researcher) guide users through tasks, either in person or remotely. You get to watch their every click, ask follow-up questions, and witness the face they make when something’s confusing.

Perk: Rich insights with real-time clarification
Watch out for: Time-consuming setup and possibly scaring the user into politeness

2. Unmoderated Usability Testing

Best for: Later-stage testing at scale
Let users crack on without a moderator. Tools record the session, and voilà, data.

Perk: Scalable and budget-friendly
Watch out for: No one’s there to rescue a stuck user (or explain what just happened)

3. Guerrilla Usability Testing

Best for: Quick, scrappy insights
You approach people in cafés or public spaces and ask them to try your product in exchange for, say, a biscuit. It’s like user research meets speed dating.

Perk: Fast and inexpensive
Watch out for: Noisy environments and possibly odd looks

4. A/B Testing

Best for: Testing small design changes
Two versions walk into a bar; only one gets clicked. A/B testing helps you decide what works better with real users.

Perk: Solid data for stakeholder arguments
Watch out for: You’ll need decent traffic to get statistically meaningful results

5. Eye Tracking

Best for: Understanding visual attention
This one’s proper high-tech. See exactly where users are looking and for how long. (Yes, it’s a bit sci-fi.)

Perk: Objective, measurable data
Watch out for: Costs a fair bit and requires specialist kit

Best Practices for Running a Smooth Usability Test

No matter which method you pick, keep these in your back pocket:

Start with clear objectives

Know what you’re testing, and what success looks like.

Recruit the right people

Your cousin might be keen, but unless they’re your actual user type, maybe don’t.

Set real-world tasks

Make it realistic. Think “Find a product and buy it” not “Click this button because I said so.”

Record everything

Recordings let you replay key moments and get buy-in from teammates who couldn’t attend.

Analyse like a detective

Look for patterns, pain points, and the moments that made users squint.

Act on what you find

Don’t just collect insights; turn them into action.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Usability testing isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what helps you go from “I think this works” to “We know this works for our users.” The best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or terrifying. Just start small, stay curious, and don’t take feedback personally (unless you’re testing a toaster. Then all bets are off.)

Want to go deeper?

If you fancy getting serious about user research, behavioural design, or building delightful products that people actually want, check out our online courses. We’ve helped folks just like you level up their design game with tools, real-world examples, and the occasional “aha!” moment.