Test Schedule

You should conduct as many usability tests as it takes to create a user-friendly Web site.

At the bare minimum, there should be at least three rounds of testing:

Uncover your users' needs
To design a site that meets your intended users' needs, you should start by conducting some basic usability tests on competitors' sites. Find out what your users particularly like or dislike about a competitor's site.
Design your site's objectives to meet your users' needs
Translate your users' needs into specific priorities for your site design. Once the design requirements have been formalized, you should test the site plan to make sure the translation of your users' needs have been met properly.
Beta test your site
A beta test - also considered as a "pre-release test" - is a phase of testing in which a sampling of the intended audience tries the product out prior to launch. This round of testing allows you to validate the most critical elements of your site before it goes live. Once your site goes live, you should start over with the first test.

Like I said, you should conduct a minimum of three rounds of usability testing. Ideally, you will conduct more tests throughout the development of your Web site.

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