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 "Plans are nothing; planning is everything." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

If you have a site structure to test and some tasks in mind, it’s tempting just to dive right in – set up the test, email a bunch of users, and watch the results come in. Easy, right?

However, you’ll get a lot more out of your testing if you take a step back and ask yourself some basic questions, such as:

  • Why am I running this test? What am I specifically trying to find out?

  • What am I testing – the whole tree, or just the top levels? Or two completely different trees?

  • Who should I test – existing customers, or prospective ones too?

How you answer these questions can change how you run your test and analyze your results.

 


Why are you running this test?

Baselining, testing new/revised trees, comparing alternatives, etc.

How many rounds of testing?

2 rounds is standard, but even 1 round will improve your site.

Which trees will you test?

Existing tree vs. new tree(s)? The whole tree or just part of it?

Who will you test?

User groups, recruiting, and incentives

When will you test?

You can start as soon as you have a site tree roughed out

Which tool will you use?

Treejack, UserZoom, paper, and other tools

Where will you test?

Online using a browser vs. in person

Who will do what?

Working with a team vs. going solo

How will you handle problems?

Most problems can be prevented, but a safety net is always wise

Documenting your plan

A simple template to keep you on track

Key points

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