There is now a longer presentation on guerrilla usability testing here: http://www.slideshare.net/LilyDart/guerrilla-testingwordcamp When you're tight on time and budget guerrilla testing can be a quick and cheap alternative to lab usability testing to gather some insights for improvement. Traditionally used for transactional services, this presentation covers some tips on focusing on more copy-led websites and services.

1. Guerrilla testing
for content
Lily Dart
Head of Service Design
dxw

2. We use guerrilla testing
because it’s cheap,
simple and effective
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content

3. “the art of pouncing on lone people
in cafes and public spaces, [then]
quickly filming them whilst they use
a website for a couple of minutes”
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
@MartinBelam

4. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Evaluating content

5. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Can they find the content?
Evaluating content

6. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Is the language relevant to them?
Can they find the content?
Evaluating content

7. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Is the language relevant to them?
Have they understood what they’ve read?
Can they find the content?
Evaluating content

8. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Preparing a session

9. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Preparing a session
1. Venue

10. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Where will you find your audience?
1. Venue
Preparing a session

11. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Can they stop for 10 minutes?
Where will you find your audience?
1. Venue
Preparing a session

12. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Can they stop for 10 minutes?
Will you have internet access?
Where will you find your audience?
1. Venue
Preparing a session

13. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
2. Devices
Preparing a session

14. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Which devices does your audience use?
2. Devices
Preparing a session

15. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Can you record from that device?
Which devices does your audience use?
2. Devices
Preparing a session

16. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
3. Practised introduction
Preparing a session

17. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Who are you?
3. Practised introduction
Preparing a session

18. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Why are you there?
Who are you?
3. Practised introduction
Preparing a session

19. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Why are you there?
What do you want from them?
Who are you?
3. Practised introduction
Preparing a session

20. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
Preparing a session

21. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
Preparing a session

22. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
Preparing a session

23. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
Preparing a session

24. Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Preparing a session

25. Hi, do you have a minute?
My name is Lily and I work for a research agency. I’m
here asking people to take a look at a website and let
me know what they think, and recording the answers. In
return for your time, we’ll buy you a coffee or slice of
cake to say thank you.
Do you have 10 minutes to spend with me?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example introduction
Preparing a session

26. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
4. Scenarios
Preparing a session

27. You have just been offered a full-time job and
are about to sign the employment contract.
The contract says that you only get 5 days of
paid holiday per year. You aren’t sure if, legally,
that’s enough. Where do you go to check?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example scenario
Preparing a session

28. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
4. Scenarios
Preparing a session

29. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Which user need are you testing?
4. Scenarios
Preparing a session

30. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
What might create that need?
Which user need are you testing?
4. Scenarios
Preparing a session

31. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
What might create that need?
When has a user fulfilled that need?
Which user need are you testing?
4. Scenarios
Preparing a session

32. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Anatomy of a scenario

33. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
is easy for participants to
relate to
A good scenario
Anatomy of a scenario

34. You have just been offered a full-time job and
are about to sign the employment contract.
The contract says that you only get 5 days of
paid holiday per year. You aren’t sure if, legally,
that’s enough. Where do you go to check?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example scenario
Anatomy of a scenario

35. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
A good scenario
describes a problem for
participants to solve
Anatomy of a scenario

36. You have just been offered a full-time job and
are about to sign the employment contract.
The contract says that you only get 5 days of
paid holiday per year. You aren’t sure if, legally,
that’s enough. Where do you go to check?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example scenario
Anatomy of a scenario

37. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
A good scenario
has a realistic level
of detail
Anatomy of a scenario

38. You have just been offered a full-time job and
are about to sign the employment contract.
The contract says that you only get 5 days of
paid holiday per year. You aren’t sure if, legally,
that’s enough. Where do you go to check?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example scenario
Anatomy of a scenario

39. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
A good scenario
doesn’t hint to the
participant how to achieve
the goal
Anatomy of a scenario

40. You have just been offered a full-time job and
are about to sign the employment contract.
The contract says that you only get 5 days of
paid holiday per year. You aren’t sure if, legally,
that’s enough. Where do you go to check?
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Example scenario
Anatomy of a scenario

41. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Running a session

42. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Running a session
Before a scenario
ask participants to describe
their thoughts

43. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
During a scenario
let participants identify
success
Running a session

44. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
After a scenario
get participants to tell you
what they’d do next
Running a session

45. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
In conclusion

46. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Pick a location where your audience is
In conclusion

47. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Focus your session on scenario based tasks
Pick a location where your audience is
In conclusion

48. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Focus your session on scenario based tasks
Let participants decide success
Pick a location where your audience is
In conclusion

49. @lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content
Focus your session on scenario based tasks
Let participants decide success
Pick a location where your audience is
In conclusion
Understand what they’d do next

50. A little bit of testing is
better than none
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content

51. Thank you.
@lily_dart
Guerrilla testing for content