Using UserTesting to build a better website

This article applies to: UserTesting 

On this page:

• About UserTesting for website development
• Discovery and research
• Design and development
• Pre-launch benchmarking
• Post-launch optimization

About UserTesting for website development

• Building a great website requires more than just great design—it requires real user feedback.
•  The UserTesting Platform helps you gather insights at every stage—from discovery to post-launch—to create a site that meets user needs and delivers a seamless experience.
• By gathering qualitative and quantitative data throughout the process, you can ensure your website is user-friendly, competitive, and effective.

Discovery and research 

Before you start designing, understand your users and their needs.

Conduct discovery interviews

• Identify the problems your website should solve by speaking with potential users.
• Learn about their behaviors, pain points, and expectations.

Analyze the competitive landscape

• Compare your current offerings with competitor websites using comparison tests in UserTesting. 
• The Balanced Comparison feature helps reduce bias when evaluating multiple options.

Explore user journeys

• Identify how users currently find solutions to their needs and where they face challenges.

Design and development

• As you create and refine your website, use real feedback to improve the experience.
• Test early design concepts: Compare multiple wireframes or mockups to determine which direction resonates most with users.
• Refine your prototype: Gather feedback on usability, navigation, and content clarity as your design evolves.
• Iterate quickly: Make data-driven design decisions before development begins, saving time and resources.

Pre-launch benchmarking

• Before launching your new website, establish a performance baseline.
• Run a benchmark study: Measure key metrics on your current website, such as task success rates, time on task, and user satisfaction.
• Compare old vs. new: Test your new design against the existing site to ensure the changes improve the user experience.
• Identify areas of friction: Discover which elements might still need refinement before going live.

Post-launch optimization

• After launch, continue monitoring performance and refining the experience.

• Analyze website metrics: Identify areas where engagement, conversions, or other key metrics are lower than expected.
• Collect real user feedback: Use the UserTesting Platform to understand why certain pages or features may not perform well.
• Combine qualitative and quantitative data: Metrics tell you what’s happening, but user insights tell you why—helping you make informed improvements.
• Run continuous testing: Gather feedback to adapt your website to evolving user needs and business goals.

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