The Meditation Mind Usability Testing Report

The Meditation Mind is currently "under construction" but is meant to be a large portal for meditation-related websites. I was asked by founder Scott Desgrosseilliers to test it, even though the site is not yet finished. It's a good idea to test your site even before it's launched so that problems can be fixed before customers see them.

Tasks:

1. Sign up for the monthly club.
2. Sign up for the newsletter.
3. Buy products.

Watch the usability test video:

Video summary and suggestions:

• The overall look of the site is a bit amateurish. It could be more modern. Don't assume that because I like meditation, I want to see a "new age," old fashioned design.
• The color scheme is wrong: brown and purple really don't work together.
• The image text in the middle is hard to read and because it's an image, can't be enlarged.
• The logo should be on the left; the tag line should under it.
• Re-think the tag line.
• The word "Search" next to the search box is too small and in the wrong font.

Sign up for the monthly club

• I can't find a prominent "Join the club" button, even though it's the first -- and most important -- task.
• The button should really be on the top right of the page.
• The monthly club doesn't seem to exist yet; the page is currently empty.

Sign up for newsletter

• I found the newsletter easily...
• ... and I signed up easily.
• Is the newsletter only about meditation myths? I'd like to see a wider range of content.
• It would be great to see a few newsletter examples before I sign up.

Buy products

• After adding an item to the cart, I receive an error prompt, not the cart.
• The shopping cart has a "discount" and a "gift voucher." There should be just one option.
• The shipping drop down menu is not showing all the words.
• After I choose a shipping method, I receive another "error" message telling me to choose a shipping method again.
• Because the drop down menu is too small, it appears that I didn't select anything. Make the drop down "not fixed size."
• "Clear cart" should be on the left -- if used at all.
• "Get quote" should be removed.
• The only button I should see here is the "checkout" button.

Checkout:

• The form looks long because each field has its own line.
• "Required" should be marked by a red asterisk, not a dot.
• The default title should not be "DR." It's better to provide an option to choose nothing or the most common title.
• The shipping address should be mandatory.
• Auto-fill doesn't complete the zip code or the phone number.
• The check box "Same as shipping" is missing in the billing address.
• Nothing happens when I click the SSL image.
• Paypal payment doesn't work.
• When I click on "Return to merchant," I return to the checkout page. If I need to try a different payment method, then please make sure all the information is pre-completed.