User needs research
You can create a more customer focused website by researching the needs of your target audience before undertaking any design, redesign or improvements to your site.
How does it work?
The format of the research can vary. Usually I will visit the site/home of the people I’m researching or carry out phone interviews with them.
The purpose is to build a picture of the people and find out about their:
- physical environment
- behaviour, including how they use the internet
- attitudes toward the subject matter
- knowledge of the subject matter
- needs and goals regarding the subject matter
…and lots more. Unlike traditional market research, I don’t ask them what they’d like from your website or whether they would be likely to use a website like yours. The responses to such questioning is usually unreliable.
User personas
The results of this research are usually presented in the form of user personas. These personas help you to understand your audience, by distilling the important findings into a handful of imaginary people. These personas have names, faces, and ages so that the design team can visualise them and empathise with their needs.
When to do user needs research
It’s best to do this research before you create a new web site or redesign an existing one. This work should take place at the very start of the project.
How much does it cost?
Costs for this work start at £3,000. The cost will vary greatly depending on the type of research that is being carried out and the size and diversity of your target audience.
Want to know more?
Contact me if you’d like to find out more about user needs research.
