A/B Split Testing and Optimization?

[McLovin]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if there is a way to test different variations of a landing page (for example the homepage) to test the most 'conversion friendly' variation of a page (for example to reduce the homepage bounce rate)? I would really like to test different variations of landing pages (but also header, and footer, etc.) but I don't know how feasible this would be? I've been looking at Google Analytics Content Experiment, but that requires two versions of a page. That's not a problem with a static HTML page, but is that also possible with dynamic pages?

Any guidance would be much appreciated!

[Design75]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if there is a way to test different variations of a landing page (for example the homepage) to test the most 'conversion friendly' variation of a page (for example to reduce the homepage bounce rate)? I would really like to test different variations of landing pages (but also header, and footer, etc.) but I don't know how feasible this would be? I've been looking at Google Analytics Content Experiment, but that requires two versions of a page. That's not a problem with a static HTML page, but is that also possible with dynamic pages?

Any guidance would be much appreciated!

You could set up multiple templates, but they do not show at the same time.

[McLovin]

So if I understand correctly, there isn't really a way to 'load' two (or more) templates simultaneously (or two variations of the same template) and use an A/B testing tool (for example Google Analytics Content Experiment) to direct half the visitors to templateVariation1 and the other half to templateVariation2?

[Design75]

So if I understand correctly, there isn't really a way to 'load' two (or more) templates simultaneously (or two variations of the same template) and use an A/B testing tool (for example Google Analytics Content Experiment) to direct half the visitors to templateVariation1 and the other half to templateVariation2?

There is a module called template switch. May be that can be used, and then tell doodle the different uri for the templates
You can get these uri's by switching between the templates

[mc12345678]

There is a module called template switch. May be that can be used, and then tell doodle the different uri for the templates
You can get these uri's by switching between the templates

I was thinking the same template add-on could be used, that a value could be stored in the database as a sort of on/off switch and then anytime a new session was started to pull the template that matched that switch and flip the switch for the next visitor. Thus providing the A/B switch desired. Don't know how that all plays in with the "experiment" software, but at least would give a 50/50 split basically. Though other aspect of that would be addressing what a logged in user would get, would they stay on the then current template or be able to pick a "favorite" template?

Of course the options could be more than just for two templates, could cycle through any number of templates. Just remember the modifications made to work with one plugin may have a negative impact in an alternate template if that plugin is not also incorporated... (Shouldn't be the case, but is a possibility that could drive one batty to debug.)

[McLovin]

I was thinking the same template add-on could be used, that a value could be stored in the database as a sort of on/off switch and then anytime a new session was started to pull the template that matched that switch and flip the switch for the next visitor. Thus providing the A/B switch desired. Don't know how that all plays in with the "experiment" software, but at least would give a 50/50 split basically. Though other aspect of that would be addressing what a logged in user would get, would they stay on the then current template or be able to pick a "favorite" template?

Of course the options could be more than just for two templates, could cycle through any number of templates. Just remember the modifications made to work with one plugin may have a negative impact in an alternate template if that plugin is not also incorporated... (Shouldn't be the case, but is a possibility that could drive one batty to debug.)

Then would it be possible to 'split' the template files (for example copy/paste 'index.php' and rename it 'index_variant1.php') and have both of them function normally? Because if that is possible, then you could simply set up Google Analytics Content Experiment to compare index.php and index_variant.php. GACE would take care of the rest, that way you wouldn't have to mess with the Zen Cart core files or database.