September 16, 2014 at 15:00How to create and make money on SaaS (Part 11 / Reviews of cloud services / UX and usability testing)
- Tutorial
Over the past six months, I have written 10 articles on SaaS issues - everything turned out to be relatively readable and interesting, but all topics have been exhausted and there is a desire not to stand still and “be in the subject”. I thought for a long time that it could still be interesting on the topic and just decided to write about cloud services - relatively new services created in the SaaS paradigm. Another important criterion for future articles is the services that I plan to talk about, no matter how they do not engage me - I find them, they are interesting to me, I use them or plan to use them in work and I objectively write about their pros and cons.
I will also try to devote less time to classic business automation systems (I’m tired of them), and I will focus on cloud services and platforms that a) potentially solve the tasks of developers, including b) work for a business not within the company, but help, for example, sell better, build an affiliate or make payments.
In general, I set a framework for myself and today I will start and distribute stars to the guys who solved the problem of remote testing in the development of interfaces, websites and content by creating the Usability Factory service www.fabuza.ru . I want to warn sophisticated readers of a reputable resource who are opposed to direct advertising that I use or try all the services that I plan to write about for myself.
In the Microsoft BizSpark partner projects, I recently discovered a usability test platform for user testing, and I just had the task of conducting A / B testing, but the site had a bit of organic traffic.
By the announcement on the site it was clear that I could do a survey on the usability of sites, but it was not clear how (the site of the service is minimalistic and there is completely no description of the functionality, which caused a lot of misunderstanding).
The platform on the developer's site is positioned as follows: Usability Factory is an online platform for independent remote user testing of websites and content (illustrations, videos, logos, banners, etc.). OK!
After a request, the developers understood the mechanics of the platform. I make a test of 4 types of questions -> I buy through the testers platform or send a link to my testers -> they pass tests -> z I get reports. It is important that the types of questions are formed specifically for testing content. The unique type of question is “Site Test” and on it a little later.
Before drawing up questions, I think over test scenarios based on an understanding of problematic bottlenecks or simply put a user’s behavior scenario on a site — for example, buying an air ticket — into the survey and catch execution problems.
For the test, I was recommended to use at least 30 testers. At the same time, they suggested that I describe the target audience of my product for the selection of respondents. Cost of testers
ranges from 250 rubles to 3,000 rubles. The last amount was requested for the director of the plant. I settled on 15 test and this was enough.
I contacted the developers and asked them some implementation questions. It was surprising in the answers that during the testing of the site, the tester downloads the plug-in and sends it to the site during the survey from the service environment to complete the task. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise - that is, I work not just with the questionnaire, but really with the technological platform, which also writes video of the respondents passing the tests. Again, I regretted at this place that the guys could not describe it on the site. As a result, my language, a fairly complete manual for working with the service, located in your personal account and the Zhivosayt service integrated into the LC, helped out.
As for analytics, there is one, but so far it’s a “semiautomatic device” - after testing the interfaces of my service and website, I had to watch a video clock to identify bottlenecks. According to the assurances of the developers, over time, they will include in the road map the capabilities of the platform for recording the video of the testee, expand analytics and implement behavior analysis algorithms.
For myself, I found a good alternative to A / B testing and Eye-tracking technology. Once again I will say why - the first requires traffic to the site and using it I do not understand who is evaluating the option, the second is simply not available to me.
At prices, my project cost me 5,000 (asked for a 50% discount) rubles, test activation and 3,750 rubles, 15 testers. Against the background of the fact that as a result I had to redo a lot on the site and in the interfaces I consider the expenses as justified beforehand. The developers also suggested using the tool according to the SaaS model and asked for it 15,000 rubles a month for the possibility of an unlimited number of tests.
For my reasons, the service can be used inside the company without the presence of usability specialists - the service is built very friendly in terms of simplicity and use. In addition to companies, the service will be a good alternative to the expensive services of specialized design companies (UsabilityLab). In the course of communication with the developers, I was offered the services of experts on the usability of the company - the price for them is 10,000 specialist working days. For this, they promised to help me with compiling surveys and compiling a report - I kindly refused. The service may well be used by companies working in the Digital market, website builders, SaaS service developers, designers, offline advertisers.
In the course of communication, colleagues suggested trying two more products - a free questionnaire without the possibility of testing sites (it is not yet necessary, but offered to the marketing department) and a product from the Improve Site widget and platform. In the bundle, site testers become visitors who are offered to undergo testing for a discount or bonus. A curious idea, but so far refrained from it.
In general, interfaces and Landing are ours and we need to take care of their quality before launching the service. Usability fabuza turned out to be exactly the platform that a) implements the customer development approach at the design stage b) is available "here and now" and requires a minimum of time to study and launch. I don’t like to evaluate, since I ’ve decided to apply for Michelin stars in SaaS, then the
service is www.fabuza.ru - 5.
Ease of use - 4
Landing - 3
R&D taking into account the road map - 4
Technologies (by the way, guys on Azure) - 5
Prices - 4
Service potential - 5
Author’s blog http://www.bootstrap24.ru/
Materials of the series “How to create and make money on SaaS”
I will also try to devote less time to classic business automation systems (I’m tired of them), and I will focus on cloud services and platforms that a) potentially solve the tasks of developers, including b) work for a business not within the company, but help, for example, sell better, build an affiliate or make payments.
In general, I set a framework for myself and today I will start and distribute stars to the guys who solved the problem of remote testing in the development of interfaces, websites and content by creating the Usability Factory service www.fabuza.ru . I want to warn sophisticated readers of a reputable resource who are opposed to direct advertising that I use or try all the services that I plan to write about for myself.
Usability Factory - UX and usability testing service / www.fabuza.ru
In the Microsoft BizSpark partner projects, I recently discovered a usability test platform for user testing, and I just had the task of conducting A / B testing, but the site had a bit of organic traffic.
By the announcement on the site it was clear that I could do a survey on the usability of sites, but it was not clear how (the site of the service is minimalistic and there is completely no description of the functionality, which caused a lot of misunderstanding).
The platform on the developer's site is positioned as follows: Usability Factory is an online platform for independent remote user testing of websites and content (illustrations, videos, logos, banners, etc.). OK!
Platform Mechanics
After a request, the developers understood the mechanics of the platform. I make a test of 4 types of questions -> I buy through the testers platform or send a link to my testers -> they pass tests -> z I get reports. It is important that the types of questions are formed specifically for testing content. The unique type of question is “Site Test” and on it a little later.
Before drawing up questions, I think over test scenarios based on an understanding of problematic bottlenecks or simply put a user’s behavior scenario on a site — for example, buying an air ticket — into the survey and catch execution problems.
For the test, I was recommended to use at least 30 testers. At the same time, they suggested that I describe the target audience of my product for the selection of respondents. Cost of testers
ranges from 250 rubles to 3,000 rubles. The last amount was requested for the director of the plant. I settled on 15 test and this was enough.
Technology and analytics
I contacted the developers and asked them some implementation questions. It was surprising in the answers that during the testing of the site, the tester downloads the plug-in and sends it to the site during the survey from the service environment to complete the task. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise - that is, I work not just with the questionnaire, but really with the technological platform, which also writes video of the respondents passing the tests. Again, I regretted at this place that the guys could not describe it on the site. As a result, my language, a fairly complete manual for working with the service, located in your personal account and the Zhivosayt service integrated into the LC, helped out.
As for analytics, there is one, but so far it’s a “semiautomatic device” - after testing the interfaces of my service and website, I had to watch a video clock to identify bottlenecks. According to the assurances of the developers, over time, they will include in the road map the capabilities of the platform for recording the video of the testee, expand analytics and implement behavior analysis algorithms.
For whom and prices
For myself, I found a good alternative to A / B testing and Eye-tracking technology. Once again I will say why - the first requires traffic to the site and using it I do not understand who is evaluating the option, the second is simply not available to me.
At prices, my project cost me 5,000 (asked for a 50% discount) rubles, test activation and 3,750 rubles, 15 testers. Against the background of the fact that as a result I had to redo a lot on the site and in the interfaces I consider the expenses as justified beforehand. The developers also suggested using the tool according to the SaaS model and asked for it 15,000 rubles a month for the possibility of an unlimited number of tests.
For my reasons, the service can be used inside the company without the presence of usability specialists - the service is built very friendly in terms of simplicity and use. In addition to companies, the service will be a good alternative to the expensive services of specialized design companies (UsabilityLab). In the course of communication with the developers, I was offered the services of experts on the usability of the company - the price for them is 10,000 specialist working days. For this, they promised to help me with compiling surveys and compiling a report - I kindly refused. The service may well be used by companies working in the Digital market, website builders, SaaS service developers, designers, offline advertisers.
In the course of communication, colleagues suggested trying two more products - a free questionnaire without the possibility of testing sites (it is not yet necessary, but offered to the marketing department) and a product from the Improve Site widget and platform. In the bundle, site testers become visitors who are offered to undergo testing for a discount or bonus. A curious idea, but so far refrained from it.
Summary
In general, interfaces and Landing are ours and we need to take care of their quality before launching the service. Usability fabuza turned out to be exactly the platform that a) implements the customer development approach at the design stage b) is available "here and now" and requires a minimum of time to study and launch. I don’t like to evaluate, since I ’ve decided to apply for Michelin stars in SaaS, then the
service is www.fabuza.ru - 5.
Ease of use - 4
Landing - 3
R&D taking into account the road map - 4
Technologies (by the way, guys on Azure) - 5
Prices - 4
Service potential - 5
Author’s blog http://www.bootstrap24.ru/
Materials of the series “How to create and make money on SaaS”
- Part I / remove all unnecessary, hit the target, experiment
- Part 2 / invaluable experience of Russian ISV
- Part 3 / sales through an affiliate channel that may not be needed
- Part 4 / Quickme startup - communications and collaboration of small teams
- Part 5 / ubiquitous SaaS integration as a cute threat to the rest of the software business or how 1 + 1 turns into 3
- Part 6 / Quickme story for partners or 7 reasons to do business together
- Part 7 prefinal / why SaaS is not for sale?
- Part 8 - FINISH / SaaS - the realities of the Russian market
- Accidentally Forgotten Part 9 / SaaS Legal Mist
- Part 10 / Business Model Metrics
- Part 11 / Cloud Services Reviews / UX and Usability Testing
Only registered users can participate in the survey. Please come in.
How do you like the usability factory service?
- 41% It was better to pass by and not write about the service 39
- 28.4% I paid attention and on occasion I will use 27
- 7.3% Already sitting and testing my site - thanks for the find! 7
- 23.1% No opinion 22