5 Plausible reasons for not testing web sites and mobile apps

1. We don't have the time.

It’s true that most Web development schedules seem to be based on the punch line form a Dilbert cartoon. If testing is going to add to everybody’s to-do list, then it won’t get done. That’s why you have to make testing as simple as possible.

 Done right, it will save time because you won’t have to (a) argue endlessly and (b) redo things at the end.

2. We don’t have the money.

Forget $5,000 to $10,000. You should only have to spend a few hundred dollars for each round of testing-even less if your participants are volunteers.

3. We don’t have the expertise.

The least-known fact about usability testing is that it’s incredibly easy to do. Yes, some people will be better at it than others, but I’ve rarely seen a usability test fail to produce useful results, no matter how poorly it was conducted.

4. We don’t have a usability lab.

You don't need one. All you really need is a room with a desk, a computer, and two chairs where you won't be interrupted and another room where the observers can watch on a large screen.

5. We wouldn't know how to interpret the results.

One of the nicest things about usability testing is that the important lessons tend to be obvious to everyone who’s watching. The most serious problems are hard to miss.