Subscribe to Web Analytics World
Subcribe  Join our Facebook Group  Follow us on Twitter Follow our Buzz Subscribe by Email
 
About Advertise Book/Product Reviews Contact Hire Us

Gmail Leveraging A/B Testing and You Can Too

Manoj Jasra - Monday, July 16, 2007 3 Comments



Considering Google uses A/B testing to optimize the performance of their pages, shouldn't all site owners do the same? If you haven't noticed, Google's Gmail home page has been running a small A/B test to help promote new Gmail sign-ups. In Google's case, they are running an A/B/C/D/E test.

Gmail's test consists of random sign-up buttons all with unique messaging which will help Google select the most enticing version in terms of new user registrations. Below are 5 different samples Google is using for Gmail registrations:

gmail1.gif
gmail2.gif
gmail3.gif
gmail4.gif
gmail5.gif

Setting up an A/B test is fairly straightforward and here somethings worth considering if you want to setup one of your own:

  • Select one element on a landing page or conversion page and focus your testing on that element

  • Determine how many different versions of that element you'd like to test.

  • Each version of the element will need to be served up randomly to users and Javascript (or other scripting languages) is an excellent way to do this. Furthermore each element will have to be given equal amount of page views.

  • Analytics is very important because you need to be able to track the number of page views to each 'version' as well as the amount of conversions each 'version' delivered.

  • Create a dashboard for yourself comparing the performance of the different 'versions.'

  • Run the test long enough so that you have ample data to make a decision on which 'version' to go with.

  • Repeat the A/B test process because there is always room for improvement.

I orginally published this post at SearchEngineGuide

Labels: ,



Tweet This   Share on Facebook   Buzz this Story   Share on StumbleUpon   Subscribe Subscribe by Email




3 Responses to “Gmail Leveraging A/B Testing and You Can Too”

  1. # Anonymous Sourav

    Yes, from the last couple of days I have noticed them with all such changes...

    And I appreciate this move as well..the time has really come for all the webmasters to start thinking seriously about the test techniques...  

  2. # Blogger Salman Siddiqui

    just wanted to update u that you are still using old widget of "addthis"

    go to there website. they got a new dropdown one available...like i am using  

  3. # Blogger Manoj Jasra

    Thanks Salman,

    I think I might have to wait until they have the blogger version out. It doesn't work well with my customized template quite yet.

    But it's very cool!  

Post a Comment



        



Monthly Archives



Web Analytics is an essential component for any SEM/SMO campaign. Help convert visitors into customers by understanding them. Web Analytics Blog powered by Web Analytics Canada
Google Analytics   In House SEO   Social Media   How Google Makes Money    Facebook Groups   Facebook Advertising