Working title: The Duck & Dog Lodge
Report Author: Emilio Gomez
Date:  12-08-09

Brief Profile of Users
Four people participated. Two were adept at searching potential vacation rental sites; two were not. Three were computer savvy; one was not as comfortable with general online searches. None had seen the site before.  

Think Aloud task
Provide general feedback on the look of the site; ease of navigation; and information included. Determine whether the site would lead you to rent this property.

Summary of Think Aloud
All four users complimented the main page and were drawn in by the photos and use of coordinating colors.  One user did not care for the font. All users liked the slide show of the house photos in the Rental Info section. One user felt the master photo section had too much duplicity. Two users recommended adding photo captions.  All users had difficulty in returning to the site after viewing the photo slideshow.
All users stated the site headings were logical and included relevant information. One user recommended using drop-down menus in the Rental Info section. All reviewed the links included in the Links section. All commented on the accurate weather data as well as completeness of the Travel section. One user suggested adding “points of interest” links directly on the Google Map in the main page so that people could view their proximity to the lodge.

Summary of Posttest
Users were impressed with the look and feel of the Main Page. All commented that it invited them to explore further. One user suggested focusing the photos to highlight the interior and direct exterior of the home and to eliminate many of the property photos and general vicinity. During discussions one user recommended including information about the town and its offerings as everyone is not interested in an “outdoor vacation” solely. Two users stated that upon further inspection there appeared to be an old image on the main page that shaded the writing. All users remained frustrated that they couldn’t easily navigate back to the Main page after viewing the photos.  Three users suggested including an availability calendar to facilitate their vacation decision.

Findings to be Implemented
As a result of the beta test, I have made or will make the following changes:

• Review the master photo file and eliminate photos that appear duplicative;
• Added instructions on how to return to the Main Page from the photo section
• Add relevant photo captions;
• Add information and a link about the town where the property is located, including local dining, grocery stores, and other available amenities;
• Adjust background on the Main page;
• Incorporate an availability calendar.
• Add “points of interest” links to the Google map on the main page.

Findings that will not be Implemented
I tested embedding photos directly into the site as opposed to bridging the photos in a separate window. Ultimately the embedding process seemed clunky and I determined the best solution was to add instructions on the front page of the Photo section.