Online Conversion

This sentence summarizes why website optimization is hard: "But despite our intellect and like all earthly creatures, the mental circuitry of our biological ancestors had been optimized by evolution for a world where timeliness was more valuable than accuracy."

it's interesting that scientists side to use stories -- from The Moth podcast -- to stimulate test subjects' brains in this fMRI study. The conclusion is that these stories stimulate areas scattered across our cortex. Stories light up our brains. No wonder storytelling I'd so powerful in marketing.

Bryan and Jeffery Eisenberg often say, "You can't read the label from inside the bottle." It means that you can't really see the solution to a problem if you're too close to it.

This may be a good argument for bringing in consultants for your most important business processes. After working with a client for a year or more, we often find ourselves inside the bottle with them and have to get outside influences to read the label.

Apparently, there is a firm psychological principle at work here that can be measured. What does the label say on your business bottle?

We often advocate for "stacked" forms vs. multi-column forms. Here is some research that reinforces that. Stacked forms are completed much faster than side-by-side fields.

While this article discusses the bottom navigation bar for andriod apps, we often test "sticky" headers and footers on mobile websites. We call these kinds of tests "lead tophats" and "sticky shoes".

Our tests often don't favor the hamburger menu, so we are always looking for alternatives. This sticky shoe approach has the footer navigation change with context. Given the results, such an approach may increase mobile conversion and call rates for your mobile website.

I always tell my audiences that exit-intent popovers will increase lead generation and often increase sales in an ecommerce setting. However, there is a negative brand impression from them. Nobody likes popovers, if you ask them.

Now we have some data on what people THINK about exit-intent popovers.

Data science in the season of US poitics. Good resources for mining text for test hypotheses. Good for chat transcripts, phone logs, reviews, etc.

While Data Scientists are in demand, the ability to manage them to productive ends and incentivize them to drive the company forward are skills that managers will need to develop before they see ROI.

Data scientist agencies, like Conversion Sciences will thrive until internal management gets up to speed on what to do with these new brainiacs.

Keep these things in mind I'd your doing AB tests on SEO traffic. And you should be.

A parent after my own heart. There are several important lessons about A/B Testing here: Alternate the children so that you eliminate natural differencesAlways declare a control before testing something elseYou must have a knowledge of statistics to do this rightAccurate measurement and tracking are critical

This is a great summary of the many biases that can harm our interpretation of date, turning information into superstition and mythology. Understand these things about yourself and you'll question your conclusions before they affect your test results.

Andy @Crestodina of @orbiteers is one of the smartest content marketers and educators in the space today. I'll be sitting down with my Content Scientist to talk through these ideas. So. Many. ideas.

Great insights from four people who know their stuff and me too.

Mobile traffic is probably one of your fastest growing segments. I don't care WHAT industry you are in. Here are some excellent things to consider when developing test hypotheses for your mobile website.

We have begun using machine learning to optimize client websites. We call it "machine earning". I think that this is going to be common within a year or two. So I was pleased to find this excellent summary that explains machine learning so well.

In their own words:8. Conversion Sciences Blog Conversion Sciences is another A/B testing conversion optimization agency that has stood the test of time (it was founded in 2007). In this blog you can find some remarkable and noteworthy ideas about A/B testing and conversion optimization. What to read: AB Testing JavaScript: Great Power, Great ProblemsHow to Avoid Mobile-Friendly Redesign DisastersAB Testing Inspiration: Using Emotional TriggersHow Google Reviews Drive Conversions for Local Businesses

Loved the concept of type 1 and type 2 decisions.

I geeked out a bit on this. It's a fascinating discussion of how online experimentation fits into the broader picture of business experimentation. Great references and links.

Machine learning, which we call "machine earning" is going to transform our industry.I'll