HECO17: Online tools for content and user research

Transcript

1. Online tools for content and user research
   Amy Grace Wells, Content Strategist/UX Research
   Graceful Content
   Higher Ed Content Conference ~ #HECO17
   

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2. what you think
   users do
   what users
   actually do
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3. User Research Facts
   • A typical usability test can cost $12,000 to
   $18,000 depending on the agency.
   • Usability testing only requires five to eight
   subjects to find 80% of issues.
   • The average site has 11 usability catastrophes.
   (design elements that prevent users from
   completing test tasks)
   Source: Nielsen Norman Group
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   

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4. Know before you start
   It can take 39 hours to usability test a website the
   first time you try.
   The process includes planning the test, defining test
   tasks, recruiting test users, conducting a test with
   five users, analyzing the results, and writing the
   report.
   With experience, web user tests can be completed
   in two work days .
   Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/cost-of-user-testing-a-website/
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   

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5. Usability and Content Issue Effects
   • In a NNGroup study, 48% of users didn’t
   realize that the university offered the
   program that they were looking for.
   – Fewer applications
   – More help inquiries
   • More dependence on search
   • Unable to complete key tasks
   Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/university-sites/
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   

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7. Optimal Workshop
   optimalworkshop.com
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   

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8. Optimal Workshop
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   • Options start with a free
   account for small studies.
   50% discount offered for
   education!
   • Best for card sorts or tree
   testing.
   • Excellent reporting options
   including results matrix
   

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9. Hotjar
   hotjar.com
   • Options start with a free basic plan that tops
   out at 2K page views/day. They offer non-
   profit discounts.
   • All features track and work on desktop, mobile
   and tablet versions.
   • Best for heatmaps, form analysis, and visitor
   recordings.
   #HECO17
   @amygracewells
   

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10. Hotjar
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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11. Validately
    validately.com
    • Perhaps the priciest of these tools, but still
    below $2500/year. Unsure if they offer
    discounts.
    • Their motto is “Take the pain out of user
    testing” and it is true!
    • Test on mobile or desktop. Moderated or
    unmoderated.
    • Screen and sound recording.
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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12. Validately
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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13. Hemingway App
    hemingwayapp.com
    • Free browser-based version or buy the
    desktop app for $20.
    • It highlights wordy sentences in yellow and
    more egregious ones in red. It provides
    reading level and highlights adverbs, passive
    voice, and dull, complicated words.
    • Great to use with academic stakeholders or in
    a UX review.
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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14. Hemingway App
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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15. BoardThing
    boardthing.com
    • Free accounts
    • Functionality includes creating cards with text
    or images, move/arrange cards on
    collaborative boards, organize into groups,
    export in multiples ways.
    • Great for visual look at content audits and IA
    structures.
    • Include goals, key functionality, or quotes
    from users
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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16. BoardThing
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells Photo credit: @redsesame
    

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17. BoardThing
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells Photo credit: @redsesame
    

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18. Mural
    mural.co
    • Go beyond Basecamp collaboration!
    • University teachers and students can use for
    free. (I assume this includes administrators.)
    • Online visual brainstorming, idea evaluation,
    and planning. A combination of whiteboard
    and bulletin board.
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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19. Mural
    #HECO17
    @amygracewells
    

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