What to Do Next

Having done your first usability test, you probably have an idea of what the technique is good for and how it's useful for you. If you read the rest of the first section of this book (through Chapter 4), you should be able to put together a research plan for your product, incorporating discount usability testing (which the friends and family usability test is an example of) and a number of other techniques. The in-depth techniques described in the second part of the book (Chapters 7 through 13) will tell you how to go far beyond this basic test to understand every facet of your users' experience in your product's development. The final part (Chapters 14 through 19) will help you present your findings in such a way that convinces your development team to make the changes that will make your product really work for your audience and to keep directing it toward users' needs well into the future.

Warning

Friends and family usability testing is fast, easy, and convenient, but it's a quick and dirty technique. Your friends and family may give you a general idea of the problems with your product, but (more often than not) they're not representatives of your actual user audience. Whenever possible, use actual representatives of your audience.