The Pros And Cons of Video Feedback As A Usability Testing Tool

Over the past few years, more and more business owners have started to focus on the power of video feedback when it comes to usability testing. To put it simple, video feedback is an accurate, detailed and valuable tool in terms of identifying and addressing the potential usability problems test participants may encounter on their way. One of the most notable benefits is that videos are concise and explicit. Here are some of the pros and cons of using videos to gather feedback, and how can WalkMe come in handy when you encounter video-related issues:

Videos Can Limit The User

Just like any other tool for testing and evaluation, video feedback has its downsides as well – one of the disadvantages is that it is relatively limiting, meaning that the user cannot express himself to the fullest. It often happens that researchers simply have too much control over the raw form of the feedback, and this slightly distorts the real-world application of the tool.

The Lack Of Text

Video is undoubtedly better and more efficient as opposed to a dull piece of text, but some people are simply not made for the camera – they are better readers than actors, and the lack of text in a video can result in overseen details, details that often go unnoticed even though they may be of paramount importance.

Long Videos Are Dull And Boring

Despite the fact that the audience is more likely to remember a video than a piece of text (mainly because of the images in motion), it is extremely difficult to draw one’s attention and to keep him engaged for more than just a few minutes, and this can impact the effectiveness of the video. This is why a video feedback that is longer than a couple of minutes can have the opposite effect. Nonetheless, encompassing all the vital information in a two-minute long video can be very challenging.

Rendering And Editing Are Time-Consuming

Creating a video can be extremely exhausting, no matter if you are an amateur or a professional. Gathering the raw data, selecting the most important information, filming all the actors involved and recalibrating the equipment can be a daunting task. At the opposite end, there is the video rendering and editing – unless this part is performed by a professional video editor with solid experience in the field, it can be extremely counter-productive and time consuming.

Addressing The Issues with WalkMe

Now that we have identified the most commonly met issues in terms of video feedback, the question is: how do we address them in a timely and cost-effective manner? The answer relies in WalkMe, an innovation in the field of user guidance.

To put it simple, WalkMe is a comprehensive, easy to use and user-oriented program that offers webmasters in-depth information, tips and hints on how to fix the video-related issues. This is literally a complete guide that will take you through every single step of the process, the entire system relies on efficient tip balloons that encompass information. You can even add or edit these balloons and bring your contribution to the program, if you want to help other users that deal with the same issue as you do.

Two of the most notable benefits of using WalkMe are that this is not only very cost-effective and time-saving, but it is also entertaining and interactive – as stated above, you can give a helping hand to those who are stuck. WalkMe can benefit your project and your business on more than just one level, so make sure to use that in your best interest!

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Jessica is the Lead Author & Editor of UsabilityLab Blog. Jessica writes for the UsabilityLab blog to create a source for news and discussion about some of the issues, challenges, news, and ideas relating to usability.