Free Multivariate Testing With Google Website Optimizer

A client recently asked me which would be better on their website: a form all on one page or a multi page form for visitors to complete.

They were asking from an SEO standpoint - and from an SEO perspective it does not really matter since forms are not spiderable to search engines.

From a visitor completion (conversion) standpoint, the question is major…I just didn’t know the answer to the question as it varies by industry and by site. The only proper way to answer this question is with A/B testing.

Google has just released free software to do this called Google Website Optimizer. Like all of Google’s releases, it is only available to certain advertisers who fill out a form and request the software.

From their site:

Use Website Optimizer to test different website content. Graphical reports show which content engages your audience and results in the highest conversions. Run that content to improve your users’ experience and convert visitors to customers. Complete the steps below and sign-up to participate in our beta test. We can only invite a small number of advertisers at this time, but hope to open the tool to all Advertisers over the coming months.

I completed my request to beta test and will announce here if we are accepted ;-)

P.S. I just came across a blog posting by a former SEM student who is offering a Webinar entitled “Increasing Your Landing Page Conversion with Google Website Optimizer”. The Webinar is free (aside from a long distance phone call), is 40 minutes long and takes place November 10. Signup on the ROI Revolution website.