How do I conduct usability testing?

Usability testing involves observing real users interacting with your product to identify usability issues. Start by defining test goals and recruiting representative users (5-8 is usually sufficient). Create realistic tasks users would actually perform. Set up a testing environment—can be in-person, remote, or moderated. Observe users without helping them, noting where they struggle, what confuses them, and what works well. Ask follow-up questions to understand their thinking. Document findings and prioritize issues by severity and frequency. Iterate on designs based on findings. Even simple, informal testing with a few users reveals major issues. Example: Testing a checkout process with 5 users revealed that 4 couldn't find the guest checkout option, leading to a redesign that increased conversions.