Tree testing and information architecture

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Tree testing is a usability technique for evaluating the findability of topics in a website. It’s also known as ‘reverse card sorting’ or ‘card-based classification’. Tree testing is done on a simplified text version of your site structure – without the influence of navigation aids and visual design.

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Tree testing tells you how easily people can find information on your website, and exactly where people get lost. Your website visitors rely on your IA – how you label and organize your content – to get things done. Tree testing can answer questions like:

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• Do my labels make sense to people?
• Is my content grouped logically to people?
• Can people find the information they want easily and quickly? If not, what’s stopping them?