Is your site’s usability test any good? Try it yourself

When was the last time you tested the user experience on your intranet or website? How did the people who took the test feel about it?

If you’re not sure, Jakob Nielsen has some advice for you: Next time, take the test yourself. Don’t do it during the actual testing, obviously, since you know too much about the development for your input to be valid. Take the test during a pilot period, as you work on refining and revising the test itself.

Doing so will give you an idea of what it’s like to be a tester, which means you’ll appreciate them more, empathize with them, and sharpen your skills as a facilitator, Nielsen wrote.