Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Hello Folk,

I'm just starting out with learning about conversion rate optimization.

Which resources would you recommend a newbie in this area to first look at (aside from this forum of course)?

Which tool would you first use to make testing on your website?

Many thanks!
B.

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Check out VWO or Optimizely (you can just google them). They are both great tools for AB testing

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Awesome Thank you.

Any books / reading you would recommend to get up-to-date with the subject?

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

It kind of depends on your traffic source.

Facebook optimization is different from Solo ad optimization and so forth...but
the general concepts remain the same though. Split test ads, landing pages, etc..

here's an article.. those concepts can be applied pretty much anywhere.
[Case Studies] How Failed A/B Tests Can Increase Conversion Rates | Unbounce

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Leadpages is a great noob friendly system that can get you up and running with split tests FAST. We use it and love it... Have optimized one opt in page to convert 68.5% (with a 1.5% standard deviation) of cold traffic to leads and now we are working on getting the OTO page to increase conversions with the same system.

Very simple interface and very powerful results.

Testing is inherently simple... Test one thing at a time, drive 1000 visits to the test before declaring a winner... Then test one other thing... drive another 1000 visits and declare a winner again... Then test one other thing.... And so on, and so on, and so on.

Start with testing headlines first. When you have found one that you can't 'beat' with a few consecutive tests, you can move on to other elements... Imagery, button, etc.

Really, testing is a 'hands on learning' situation because there is no way an author who wrote a book has any idea about your brand/offer/audience-their needs/wants/desires.

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Hi B,

The first thing you need is a good analytics, properly implemented, I suggest you start with Google Analytics, and Piwik (both free). Get those implemented site-wide and get familiar with how to analyse your website traffic to gain insights.

Here are some articles to get you primed:
https://analyticsacademy.withgoogle.com/explorer
Beginner's Guide To Web Data Analysis: Ten Steps To Success
https://qualaroo.com/beginners-guide-to-cro/

Next you are going to need to learn how to setup and use A/B split testing tools. Google Analytics has Content Experiments built in that you can use, and there are some really great commercial tools available as well:

Landing Pages: Build Publish & Test Without I.T. | Unbounce
https://en.abtasty.com/
Convert - A/B Testing Software and Conversion Optimization Rate Software A/B Testing Software or Split Testing Software A Visual Website Optimizer Ways to Maximizer High Conversion Rates for eCommerce Agencies
https://www.optimizely.com/
https://vwo.com/

Once you have chosen a testing tool, or two to use, you will need to figure out what to test. You can pick from a list of popular things to test, but that might not be the best approach, to find out what matters to your users, ask your users. The following tools can help you get specific ideas from the perspective of your users so that you don't waste your time on less important issues:

User Feedback/Survey Tools:
Websat | Google Consumer Surveys
4Q Survey: Free Customer Satisfaction Website Feedback Survey | iPerceptions
https://usabilla.com/

Remote User Testing Services:
UserTesting: Remote Usability Testing Software. Results in 1-hour.
WhatUsersDo - Start | WhatUsersDo
Website Usability Testing | User Testing | Web Usability Test by TryMyUI
UsabilityTools - Click Tracking, Visitor Recording & User Research
WhatUsersDo - Start | WhatUsersDo
Mobile Usability Testing | App User Testing

Session Screen Recordings:
Usability Testing for your website - GhostRec.com
Session Replay | Website Heatmaps | Conversion Funnels | SessionCam

Re: Newbie with conversion rate opt.: where to start?
 

Not sure if you picked up Brunsons "Split Test" book, but it was awesome for checking out what worked for him.

I used a couple of the landing page templates in there and it worked lovely.

Also check out big boy guru deiss' stuff. Created some beasts with his information.