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We focus on conversion marketing because it lets us spend our limited resources on the things that will move our business forward. However, when you first start your conversion optimization process, you are going to have to do MORE work until you get the data on what programs to kill. So, I thought I would pass along some very effective tips that have worked for me to find more time in my already crowded day. Enjoy. 

While this article focuses on urgency and social proof, take a look at the way this Ruby Lane product page is designed.

Price is prominently displayedAdd to Cart button is high on the pageShipping is handled before entering checkoutThe product description is near the hero shot (and well written)Several high-quality photos are provided.All are above the fold or close to it. Are you working this hard to help your visitors buy?

The question to ask on a landing page is, "Will WOW increase my conversions?" Some of these "WOW" features have proven to reduce conversion rates.  Rotating banners of any sort attract the eye away, and can pull readers out of the "meat" of the page where they are more likely to convert. Accordian menus and tabbed content may prevent scanners from quickly consuming the page. It's a bit of a Catch 22: they may not have the patience to click on each item until they've scanned the content... which is hidden. Social widgets can deliver social proof and increase conversion rates. However, social media chicklets that let the visitor go off to Facebook or Twitter work against the purpose of a landing page: to keep visitors on the page until they make a decision. Why send traffic that you've paid for off to Mark Zuckerberg? Lightbox popovers are universally derided if you ask people. However, they almost always increase conversion rates. 

Every audience is different, so test these WOW features with your own crowd.

I only touch on the issue of Mobile Apps in my new book Your Customer Creation Equation. So I'm happy to share this very helpful infographic on Mobile websites vs. Mobile apps.

Is it just me, or is it clear that mobile websites are the way to go (except in extreme situations)?

Here's the first line from this very helpful little post. "0 sales! What? But we got 517 unique visitors this week!" Airing your mistakes is not seen as smart marketing in many circles, but this kind of thing really is helpful. Besides the important moral of this story, there's another:

Failing the right way leads to success faster. Failing without knowing why invites unnecessary failure.

I predict good things for these folks.

Even data analysts can have a sense of humor, as is proved by the folks at eMetrics Summit. This short video will make Gilbert and Sullivan turn over in their graves, but these are the kind of people you are going to be seeing more and more in company marketing departments.

In the case of paid search, the biggest barrier cited by 41% of company respondents was a lack of internal resources, followed by poorly converting websites (30%). Agency respondents had a different view on the issue though, with 49% blaming lack of budget, and 44% poorly converting websites.

Great presentation at SXSW

Five Conversion Case Studies

I rarely find "Top Ways" lists for which I agree with everything. This one is spot on, 12 times out of 12. If you are running a blog, these are the things to look at (and I need to make some adjustments to The Conversion Scientist blog).

Forrester Research finds that roughly 38 percent of all shopping carts are abandoned, while other data sources put that figure as high as 70 percent.

Once you've blown your Web development budget on look and feel, you often find yourself short on the most important aspect: content; lead generating, social media supporting, expert making content. This is a great list of ways to generate and reuse content.

@widerfunnel "We have tested rotating offers many times and have found it to be a poor way of presenting home page content." Enough said.

Businesses love rotating banners because they are cowards. They are afraid of picking something and running with it. They don't want to lose a chance to get everyone. Well, when you try to sell to everyone, you sell to no one. If you won't listen to me, please, read Chris Goward's article. When it comes to testing, the Wider Funnel people konw what they're doing.  

@SeeWhy provided one of the most mind-changing ideas to come out of last week's Conversion Conference in New York:

Shopping Cart Abandonment Isn't Necessarily Bad

Some shoppers must abandon once or twice before they can buy.

But when it's time to close the deal, you don't want your shopping cart to choke. This infographic is a fantastic summary of the best practices to keep someone in the buying process, and getting them back if they need to abandon. 

Whenever someone writes an article about Conversion Consultants (like us), we are always nervous that we might cross some of these lines.

We know that we have made these mistakes in the past.

The issue is exacerbated when the author is someone like Amy Africa, who has the experience and likes to tell things like they are. Her middle name could be "Frank".

I'm happy to report that we have evolved beyond these "lies" and firmly embrace the matching truths.

If you are looking for someone to guide your optimization efforts, have a conversion with a Conversion Scientist.

If we think using unfamiliar words makes us sound smart, @GuyLigertwood has broken the spell. We've been talking alot about behavioral science and the data that drives it. Now you will know what we say with 52 explanations of the terms we tend to bandy about. It's just enough explanation to "get it" and you can drill down into the liked videos.