What are the best strategies for testing IA with a team?

2 Choose your methods

Testing your IA with a team can vary depending on your objectives, resources, and timeline. Card sorting is a popular method which involves asking participants to group and label cards that represent the content and features of your website or app. This helps you understand how users categorize and label information, and how they expect to find it. Tree testing is another approach which involves asking participants to complete tasks using a simplified version of your website or app structure, without any visual design or functionality. This helps you evaluate how easy it is to navigate and locate information, as well as how well your labels match user expectations. Lastly, first-click testing involves asking participants to click on the first link or button they would use to complete a task on your website or app. This helps you measure how quickly and accurately users can find what they need, and how intuitive your IA is.

3 Select your tools

When conducting IA testing, you may need different tools depending on the method chosen. OptimalSort is an online tool that enables you to create and run card sorting studies, and generate reports and insights from the data. Treejack is another online tool that helps you create and run tree testing studies, and generate reports and insights from the data. Chalkmark is yet another online tool that allows you to create and run first-click testing studies, and generate reports and insights from the data.

4 Recruit your participants

To get reliable and valid results from your IA testing, you need to recruit the right participants - those who represent your target audience or have similar characteristics, needs, and behaviors. You can use various methods to do this, such as asking your existing users or customers to participate through email, social media, or other channels. You may also want to consider using online platforms or services like UserTesting, UserZoom, or Respondent. Additionally, you can reach out to your network or community, such as colleagues, friends, or family members who may be relevant to your project.

5 Prepare your materials

Before you run your IA testing, you need to prepare the materials that you will use during the testing, such as a script or guide outlining the instructions, tasks, and questions; a consent form informing the participants about the purpose, duration, and privacy of the testing; a survey or questionnaire collecting feedback and demographic data from the participants after the testing; and a recording device or software capturing the screen, audio, and video of the participants during the testing. This will ensure that all necessary information is collected and that participants are aware of their rights throughout the process.

6 Conduct and analyze your testing

Finally, you need to conduct and analyze your IA testing with your team. Depending on your preferences, availability, and budget, you can either run the testing remotely or in-person, and either moderate the testing yourself or use a tool that automates the process. It's important to schedule the testing sessions in advance and send reminders and confirmations to the participants. When conducting the testing, be sure to be friendly and professional, explain the purpose and process of the testing, observe and listen to the participants, take notes or use a tool that records and transcribes the sessions, thank the participants for their time and input, and offer them an incentive or reward if applicable. Afterward, review and organize the data and notes from the testing to look for patterns, insights, and recommendations for improving your IA.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?