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The ROI Revolution Blog
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Installing Website Optimizer if you use Google Analytics
September 17, 2008
Ok, so back when I declared that Google Website Optimizer and Google Analytics represented 'A Perfect Marriage', I was overlooking some of the early bumps the newlyweds would experience before they lived happily ever after.That being said, there are some things to look out for if you are using Google Analytics and are considering Google Website Optimizer as your testing platform of choice. Or maybe you have already noticed some strange things trying to use them together?
Here are the things to look out for:
1. Are you using urchin.js or ga.js?
2a. Are you setting _udn="something" (for urchin.js) or _setDomainName('something') (for ga.js)?
2b. Are you setting _uhash="off" (for urchin.js) or _setAllowHash(false) (for ga.js)?
3. If you are using urchin.js, are you tracking Ecommerce?
As long as you've got the above four things accounted for, everything should work fine. So I'm going to address each one in detail so that you know exactly what to do.
Posted by Shawn Purtell, Analytics and Optimization Specialist at 1:34 PM
Permalink | Comments ( 24 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )
Filed under: Analytics
Tagged as: Analytics Technology, Google Website Optimizer, Tracking
What's New with Google Website Optimizer?
September 15, 2008
Last month, Google announced the release of several new features for Google Website Optimizer. If you are new to Google Website Optimizer or are unsure of what it is, it's Google's free testing tool that allows you to test and optimize your website pages. To learn more about Google Website Optimizer check out the Google Website Optimizer blog.
Google Website Optimizer's newest features include:
Experiment Pruning - a feature that lets you disable one or more of the experiments that are running. For example, if you have an experiment that is performing very poorly, you now have the ability to prevent that combination from appearing to visitors for the duration of the experiment.
A/B Offline Validation - allows you to validate pages that may not be accessible online. This is also useful for those who are currently using the ga.js version of the Google Analytics Tracking Code along with their Google Website Optimizer experiments.
Reporting interface color updates - which prevent you from jumping to conclusions while looking at the report data. Previously the colors used in the reporting interface occasionally suggested that a combination was winning and often times people would end experiments before a sufficient amount of data had collected. The colors are now yellow until a clear confidence winner is found, and the colors become green for winning combinations or red for losing combinations.
To learn more useful tips plan on attending the Google Website Optimizer Seminar for Success in Washington DC on December 4th. This full day of training will encompass landing page principles, an intro to testing and advanced testing. Join us for the GWO Seminar for Success!
Posted by Caitlin Cook, Analytics and Optimization Specialist at 12:12 PM
Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )
Filed under: Website Optimization
Tagged as: Google Website Optimizer
Google's new 'First Page Bid' - strategies to stay on page one without bidding higher
September 13, 2008
A couple of weeks ago Google announced a number of changes to the user interface. One of the changes that is slowly rolling out across all AdWords accounts is the change from 'Minimum Bid' to 'First Page Bid.'
This particular change certainly has its benefits, primarily greater transparency on what you must bid to acquire the maximum number of impressions and clicks available based on your daily budget. Ideally you want to drive as much traffic to your website as possible while remaining profitable. There is no question that if your advertising is not showing on the first page of search results, you are passing up the majority of available traffic for your product or service.
With this increased transparency, advertisers will now be able to determine very easily what they must bid to display their ads on page one and acquire those much desired impressions and clicks. Inevitably, this will produce more competition to display your ad in one of the top 8 positions simply because it is easier for advertisers to manage their AdWords accounts.
Now, of course, one way to continue serving your ads on page one would be to increase your keyword and ad group default bid amounts if you see an increase in competition. However, there are many other ways to remain on page one without increasing your bid amounts and also to maximize customer value.
- Ad Creative: The more relevant you can draft your ad headlines, body copy, and display URLs to that of the user's search query, the greater your quality score will increase, which will reward you by driving down your average CPC. By constantly conducting A/B split testing with your ad creative, you become more and more relevant, allowing you to display on page one for less than your competitors who may not be testing ads and are holding onto one of the top 8 spots by constantly increasing their bid amounts
- Landing Pages: Again, just like your ad creative, the more relevant your landing page is to what the user has searched for, the greater your Quality Score will increase and therefore lower your average CPC. Relevancy reigns supreme in paid search and this does not just span your AdWords account. From your keyword lists to your ad creative and ultimately where you send your traffic all plays an integral part in the overall performance of your PPC campaigns. Constantly test new landing page formats and content to match as closely as possible what the initial search query was on Google.com in order to maximize relevancy and to keep your ads displaying in those most coveted spots.
- Up-Sells and Back-End Offers: For practically all products and services there is potential to drive traffic for not only the immediate desired action, but also for subsequent signups and purchases, sometimes at the exact moment your customer is making their first conversion. Once you have your customer in your sales funnel and they are checking out, offer them another product or service that relates to this initial purchase.
Posted by Matt Fritz, PPC Specialist at 4:29 PM
Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )
Filed under: Online Advertising
Tagged as: Improving Conversion, Pay Per Click
Submit a Case Study and WIN!
September 10, 2008
ROI Revolution will be hosting a webinar with special Google representative(s) on the call this fall, and we're looking for a great case study to feature.
Do you have a great case study about how you have used BOTH Google Analytics AND Google Website Optimizer to improve your website? If so, submit it for the chance to win fame and glory!
The Best Case Studies Will Include:
Deadline:
Tuesday, September 30th at Midnight
The WINNING Case Study Will Receive:
Are you the Internet Rock Star we're looking for? If so, submit your case study to contact AT roirevolution DOT com today!
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