Media Company Discovers How to
Improve Product in Conceptual Stage

The Situation

A top online media company developed a new concept for displaying search results. Before investing additional development resources, the company needed to obtain user input to determine the likelihood of product adoption and uncover additional needs that could be met by the product.

Our Solution

AnswerLab conducted three focus groups to explore the general user experience regarding online search and to uncover user preferences and recommendations for improvement. Participants were presented with concepts in rough form and asked for input on key themes.

The Outcome

Because the information displayed on the search results came from diverse sources, it was evident that trust was a key issue with users—they wanted to know where the information came from and how it got there. They were particularly interested in the concept when it was for a topic that was highly visual, since images and videos were included on the page. This information helped the client narrow down the topics for the concept, and clearly demarcates information sources. The product rolled out successfully in selected global markets.