Full-blown eyetracking studies are often too expensive for startups, aren't they? So what kind of UX tools are you using? What would you suggest to people who are on a budget?
In Seattle, there's a group for startups that meets every month or two in a coffee shop to trade usability feedback. It's been described as "like speed dating" -- somebody tries with your website for 5-10 minutes, and then you rotate. In an hour or two, and for the price of a cup of coffee, you get in-person feedback from half a dozen people or more.
I tend to use such high-tech tools as a pencil and a pad of paper to take notes. (If I had $50 to spare I might try Silverback, but I really like my pencil.) I verbally encourage people to talk through what they're thinking and what they're trying to do. Eye-tracking sounds cool but hearing 4 people in a row say "the search box should be here!" is pretty darned effective.
I tend to use such high-tech tools as a pencil and a pad of paper to take notes. (If I had $50 to spare I might try Silverback, but I really like my pencil.) I verbally encourage people to talk through what they're thinking and what they're trying to do. Eye-tracking sounds cool but hearing 4 people in a row say "the search box should be here!" is pretty darned effective.