Should your order form include a coupon code field?
If you've ever purchased something online, you've probably come across an almost ubiquitous feature on many order forms: the coupon code field.
Online sellers, of course, use coupon codes in an effort to boost sales, increase AOVs and reward loyal customers. But according to web consultant Rachel Baker, these innocuous fields may be doing more harm than good.
How to get value from MVT: tips from five companies
To coincide with the recent release of Econsultancy’s Multivariate Testing Buyer’s Guide, we’ve been talking to some companies about best practice and useful advice for those thinking about investing in this area and looking for an MVT vendor. Below, we've included tips from client-side practitioners at Belron, the FT, Lovehoney, Telegraph and Tesco.
Focus on conversion rate optimization drives MVT market
Econsultancy has today published its first Multivariate Testing (MVT) Buyer's Guide to reflect the growing interest in testing technology and conversion rate optimization. Below is an outline of the main trends in this market, which are covered in much more detail in the report.
Eight lessons from Gawker's redesign atrocity
Gawker's recent launch of a new design may prove to be one of the worst redesign launches in the history of the internet. It not only sparked an outcry from users, but let to a massive drop in traffic for one of the internet's most popular publishers.
In the face of what can only be described as an online publisher's worst nightmare, Nick Denton, the outspoken head of Gawker, has been unusually silent. Until now.
In an email he sent to staff, he admits that "the transition was definitely more bruising for readers and our own staff than it needed to be" and discusses what is being done to rectify the situation.
A/B testing: five informative case studies
A/B testing is an incredibly useful tool for designers, developers, managers and executives. Sadly, despite the benefits, it’s often underused.
The news for those who shun A/B testing is particularly bad: it can facilitate dramatic improvements in numerous KPIs, including conversions and sales, as evidenced in the following five case studies.
The importance of testing signup and payment forms
When it comes to conversions, the devil is in the details. And even the smallest details can have a significant impact on conversions.
Unfortunately, many web-based businesses don't sweat the details, and their conversions suffer as a result. But the experience of one web startup highlights just how meaningful paying attention can be.
A/B testing comes to the masses with WordPress plugin
Multivariate testing is one of the most powerful tools available to online publishers. But many of them don't use it for various reasons, from lack of knowledge about multivariate testing to lack of simple testing solutions.
At a weekend hackathon event, a couple of developers decided to change that by building a Headline Split Tester WordPress plugin that gives WordPress publishers the ability to set up A/B testing of their post headlines.
Why testing online should not be optional
This week I'm writing for the SME audience on Econsultancy, a sweet homage to the much debated yet scarcely implemented topic of website testing, something which should be an integral part of your strategy, the testing plan being the culmination of analysis of web data and voice-of-customer.
If you are not yet testing and are spending money on marketing/advertising, then read this post and do something about it. Testing is not the preserve of major brands with big budgets, it’s the mental gap you need to cross not the financial one.
Six easy ways to boost your AdSense revenue
Google AdSense is a popular monetization tool for many online publishers. And for good reason: it's quick and easy to set up. If you have a website, AdSense gives you the opportunity to start earning money almost immediately.
But many publishers don't maximize their AdSense earning potential. Here are six easy ways to make sure that you're getting the most out of AdSense.
Yahoo loves multivariate testing
It's one of the most powerful tools in an online publisher's arsenal but it's one that few make effective use of. I'm talking about multivariate testing.
As part of its effort to turn its business around, Yahoo is using multivariate testing extensively on its homepage to figure out which combinations of content and features produce the best results.
