{"id":3757,"date":"2015-09-15T09:09:42","date_gmt":"2015-09-15T07:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usersnap.com\/?p=3757"},"modified":"2025-08-05T17:50:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T15:50:45","slug":"ad-hoc-feedback-widget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usersnap.com\/blog\/ad-hoc-feedback-widget\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop being lazy with ad-hoc feedback."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

User feedback and testing probably aren\u2019t a high priority for you when working on your new landing page or web application. But it\u2019s something you should take into consideration before heading in the wrong direction with your newly launched landing page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collecting and managing feedback or user complaints on website issues doesn\u2019t always require the use of a large bug-tracking or feedback system. For many (especially) small\u2014and medium-sized companies, on-site feedback widgets<\/a> or a website feedback tool<\/a> are sufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So stop being lazy with ad-hoc feedback from colleagues and customers.
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Why on-site feedback widgets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is That on-site feedback widgets offer the lowest barrier to starting a conversation with your website visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, your first priority is to find out why your incoming flow of users just won’t use your site as anticipated or why they just aren\u2019t converting.<\/p>\n\n\n

Try Usersnap for ad-hoc feedback<\/h2>Try Usersnap Now<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Well \u2013 make them tell you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When users are not satisfied with your website or your offers, chances are high that they\u2019ll bounce and won\u2019t come back. That means you only have one real shot. In order to get your users to tell about their complaints and experienced issues, you need to keep the barriers for feedback as low as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot expect unsatisfied customers to go through all the trouble of finding the contact form, waiting for the page to reload, orienting themselves on the new page, filling out fields, etc. I think you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why not offer them an easy alternative, like an on-site widget for easy ad-hoc bug reporting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\/B Testing might sound nice during the development process but getting a glimpse inside the user’s\u2019 mind provides you with another depth of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beta testing vs. user feedback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In more traditional areas of software development, it is common to perform beta tests, release pre-final versions of software to a limited group of users, and let them test it for you before you release your final bug-fixed version.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"beta<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


In modern web development workflows, this approach of beta testing seems to be a bit misplaced, since it interferes with the development speed that most agile development teams pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beta tests are also a matter of resources as they require proper planning, selecting of participants, etc. On the other hand, implementing an on-site feedback widget after releasing the first version of the website can be a quick win to collect feedback at basically no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"user<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Transparency FTW: Public prototyping.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some companies and people even try to bring the ad-hoc feedback workflow to the next level and push the envelope when it comes to testing new websites and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of \u2018building in public\u2019 is gaining more and more traction nowadays and a lot of tech startups are opening up their feedback cycle to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product Hunt is a great pioneer when it comes to \u2018building in public\u2019. Ryan Hoover, founder and CEO of Product Hunt, wrote this great piece<\/a> on why companies should shift their mindsets towards public prototyping and building products in great transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or as he personally states<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019ve found tremendous value in feedback from the Product Hunt community and the positive influence sharing its story in public, has had in building community.<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Allowing your target group to become participants instead of just being voiceless observers will be a priceless development asset for future improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n

Try Usersnap for ad-hoc feedback<\/h2>Try Usersnap Now<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On-site feedback tools for your website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The great thing about on-site feedback tools is that they can be implemented on your website as easily as Google Analytics. However, choosing among the great variety of tools isn\u2019t always that easy since your needs and features usually vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usersnap for ad-hoc feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It might sound a bit obvious highlighting our very own tool here, but Usersnap is very widely used as a great ad-hoc feedback tool for collecting feedback, or as Eric Elliott states<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.@usersnap<\/a> offers realtime screenshot-enhanced user feedback, bug reports, and collaboration. I’m loving it. Blog post coming soon! #SaaS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Eric Elliott (@_ericelliott) September 10, 2015<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n