Testing Your Audience to Create Remarkable Design

14 Mar Testing Your Audience to Create Remarkable Design

In the world of web design, A/B testing is a useful tool.  It essentially allows web designers to gather information from web users, by comparing two different products and evaluating their responses.  For those in the web design industry, making use of these tests is pretty standard, not to mention a unique and precise means of measuring the effectiveness of your product.

However, you needn’t be a web designer, or even work within the web design industry, to see a return on your investment by employing A/B testing.  Whether you sell websites or any other physical product, A/B testing will allow your business to retrieve factual information on what customers really want.

The principles behind these kinds of tests are quite simple.  Your retail store might request folks to vote on two different kinds of beauty products.  Whatever your industry and whatever your product, you should be paying close attention to the feedback that your customers are giving you:

1- Request feedback on major concerns:

Of course, your business can benefit by getting feedback on the most mundane elements of your brand, but try to focus on the areas that truly matter.  When you provide two contrasting products for your A/B test, always make sure that the items contrast noticeably.  This way, your customers can make a clear distinction of the differences at hand, in addition to providing you with clear feedback on what works and why.  Further, the better your questions are in the A/B test, the fewer individuals it will demand to garner helpful feedback.

2- Utilize Realistic Approaches:

When people know they’re being tested, they tend to offer biased or less accurate answers.  The most efficient way to garner feedback from clients is to request their opinion when they’re actually ready and willing to buy your product.  People are much more honest when it comes to spending money.  So, you can control the accuracy of your results by making your test as realistic as you possibly can.  Rather than paying people to take surveys and answer questions, try and acquire information from real customers when they’re already looking to buy your product.

3- Don’t let the data be the END ALL, BE ALL

Just because your customers are seemingly leaning toward one product more than another, does not mean that this product is most beneficial in the long haul.  Data is important.  However, it should not overwhelm you and articulate a finite result for you’re A/B testing.  Instead, listen and consider all data retrieved, but try an avoid making rash decisions based upon this information alone.

If you’re going to take the time to test your clients on two separate products, you might as well go about doing so in an effective manner.  There’s a reason A/B testing is used by most business professionals, and that’s because it’s easy to do and it works.