Article: This is why you choose an Expert Review

This is why you choose an Expert Review

An Expert Review is a simple yet highly valuable research method. If you have limited time or budget, an Expert Review can be a good alternative to a UX Test, for example. But there are many more reasons to opt for an Expert Review from time to time. What exactly are those reasons? We'll briefly walk you through them.

Expert Review versus UX Test

Before we further elaborate on when you might choose an Expert Review, we want to make one thing clear: an Expert Review is cheaper than many other research methods, but that doesn't mean you get less for your money. You simply get a different kind of insights than from a UX Test.

The biggest difference with a UX Test is, of course, that you don't speak to users. You don't hear directly from your customers what they think of your product. Instead, you rely on the years of experience and expertise of researchers and designers. They have seen numerous apps and websites at other companies. So they can quickly say what works and what doesn't. Is the flow logical? Does it align with the user's goals? Where are you going wrong in terms of accessibility? Experts can quickly elevate your service or product several levels. But no matter how much expertise you have, it will never yield the same results as direct feedback from the user themselves.

Now the question is: what exactly do you get when you choose an Expert Review? And what do you give up?

With an Expert Review, You Rely on Years of Experience and Expertise from Researchers and Designers. They Have Seen Numerous Apps and Websites at Other Companies. So They Can Quickly Say What Works and What Doesn't.

Plenty of Reasons to Choose an Expert Review

Besides speed and budget, there are plenty of other reasons to opt for an Expert Review.

You want to test a large number of flows and screens

The flow, product, or service you want to test may be too large for a UX Test. To illustrate: a client recently approached us. They wanted to test their onboarding flow, but it was so extensive and multifaceted that we advised them against going into the lab. Instead, we went through it ourselves. Before you go into the lab, you should always ask yourself: how long does the action that users need to perform within the site or app take? Is it spread over multiple moments or days? Sometimes it's simply not possible to cover everything within the interview.

You already have very strong suspicions about what could be better

If you scan the site or app and immediately write down 4-5 things that you are almost certain are wrong or could be improved, then an Expert Review is wise. See it as a filter, a first check. It helps you implement the most important usability, experience, and accessibility best practices. If you then proceed with your test, you can be sure that you won't encounter things you already knew weren't right. It ensures that during your test, you discover deeper problems, instead of just surface-level usability issues. In other words: an Expert Review prior to your UX Test ensures that your interviews become more valuable.

You want to improve your site or app on a specific topic

If you want to work on a very specific topic, an Expert Review can also be a good choice. Take accessibility, for example. If you want to comply with accessibility guidelines, you can set up an entire test, but you can also have an expert look at it. He or she will scan your site and can tell you exactly where opportunities for improvement lie.

You want a fresh, external perspective

An Expert Review can serve as an extra pair of eyes. When you're working on your service or product, you naturally don't want to be too lenient in your assessment. With an Expert Review, you get an independent, fresh, external perspective. As a designer or product owner, it's difficult to look at your own product or service without judgment. You've invested a lot of time in it. It took a lot of effort to convince the management team and then get it built. In those cases, it's hard to say: kill your darlings. It's easier for an expert. He or she is at a distance and can therefore be more critical and say exactly what the situation is.

You want to do a benchmark

If you want to compare your idea, site, or app with what competitors are doing, an Expert Review can also be very useful. You learn how others approach it. You get advice on what you can adopt or what you should do differently.

The reasons to choose an Expert Review once more in a row:

• You want to improve quickly (deadline-driven)

• You have a smaller budget

• You have strong suspicions about what could be better

• You want to improve on a specific topic

• You want to test a large number of flows and screens

• You want a fresh, external perspective

• You want to do a benchmark

Do you need help conducting an Expert Review? We have quite a few under our belt. So you can always call or email us, and we'll help you get started. Want to read more about our research methods? You can do so here.