Best Metrics for Measuring UX

Scarlett Payne | December 4, 2020

USABILITY

KPIs

You may be familiar with Key Performance Indicators: metrics that monitor performance over time. But what about metrics for measuring usability in particular?

Usability Matters

A site can be beautiful but have poor usability, and your users will still leave frustrated if they can’t find or do what they came for. Measuring usability tells you what changes to make to improve your users’ experience.

Three Usability Goals

1. Effectiveness: How well it helps users complete their task. 2. Efficiency: How much effort the user has to put in to complete it. 3. Satisfaction: How the user feels about their experience.

Related Metrics

Effectiveness Completion Rates User Errors Usability Problems Efficiency Task Times Satisfaction Task Level Satisfaction Test Level Satisfaction

Completion Rates

These rates measure how many people successfully complete a task. Decide on the task and what counts as passing criteria. With websites and apps, use clicks and impressions to track a user’s path.

User Errors

User errors are the mistakes a user makes, like picking the wrong link or entering the wrong information. Too many errors indicate a problem. Record when and where they occur, and categorize them by type and severity.

Usability Problems

These are problems on the application’s end that make it harder for users to complete tasks, like slow loading speed or bad error messages. Record and categorize them by type and severity.

Task Times

This is the time it takes a user to complete a task. If it takes longer than it should, a redesign is needed. Track the average time to complete a task, or measure the time spent on a page before completion.

Task Level Satisfaction

This measures a user’s level of satisfaction with your product with direct feedback on usability. Measure it by asking users to rate their experience once they end a session.

Test Level Satisfaction

Similar to task level, this metric is measured in a test environment where participants share their satisfaction ratings. This is better at testing the overall ease of using your product over completing a single task.

Test Usability Often

Improving usability is a process, and user expectations continue to reach new heights as industries advance. To learn more about how to measure usability, read the full blog.