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Well, as I waited for news, there was another family there and two girls got onto the computer. I couldn't help looking 'over their shoulder' to see how they were surfing. Later on, another woman and her boyfriend sat down too and surfed. I tried not to watch, but I couldn't help myself! Her boyfriend gave me a weird look once, but they didn't say anything. I was going to tell them why I was staring, but I didn't want to disturb their 'natural searching' and ended up getting called away shortly after they sat down.
I saw/heard wonderful things, though. For one, she typed Yahoo into the url and used it to search. She was looking up info on a certain type of medicine. She clicked the first result in the SERP. On that site, which was selling stuff - not an info site, I thought she would go back to the SERPs, but she didn't. She clicked around five times or so, even trying the site search button. After finding nothing, she went back to Yahoo and said something to the affect of "there's a lot of stuff to buy X medicine..."
She then typed webmd (i think) into the browser address bar and found her info.
Now, maybe it's rude, but I find watching people surf (especially when they don't know you're watching) to be fascinating as a web designer. It's like an SEO/Webmaster form of people watching. ;)
I've tried to watch my wife surf before, but she usually knows I'm watching and I think she changes her habits.
Anyway, I was thinking libraries or college computer labs would be another good place to do some 'guerrilly focus group research.' I doubt I will, though, because of the rudeness factor.
Has anyone else does something similar before, or am I just a weirdo? ;)
Thanks.
Has anyone else does something similar before, or am I just a weirdo? ;)
Is that two questions:
If so then yes I "do it" frequently. The local library's free internet access places the users backs and their computer screens towards the stacks so browsing for books is readily combined with browsing the browsers. Free, unbiased, unaware, totally random, frequently changing (on the half hour) focus individuals must be the ultimate in Market Research.
And yes I certainly am weird ... but not with an "o". The "o" is so common ... and I certainly am not common :-)
As for your personal level of weirdness: that might take years of pub therapy ... but so long as you buy I am willing to listen ...
Or a loaded question similar to "and have you stopped beating your spouse?"
