Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is the process of analyzing website performance, testing different approaches and optimizing specific elements to increase the rate at which visitors convert into customers and/or leads.
CRO uses data analytics, customer feedback, and user testing to help businesses keep their costs low, generate more leads, and improve the overall customer experience.
CRO begins with an assessment of what’s working, what’s not working, and what needs improvement on a website.
This includes analyzing the website’s design, usability, content layout, user experience, checkout process, and other factors that could potentially influence a visitor’s decision to convert.
The next step is to identify what changes could be made in order to increase the rate of conversion.
Prior to testing, businesses must create hypotheses as to what types of changes are likely to achieve desired results.
Site owners may use tools such as Google Analytics to track metrics regarding page visitors, page abandonment, and other performance indicators.
Then a/b testing can be utilized to compare different versions of the website and determine which changes have the most positive impact on conversions.
Such tests may involve comparing different headline phrasings, CTA buttons, landing-page designs, survey questions, and other elements.
Testing efforts should be based on analytics, customer service inquiries, and user feedback. Iterative testing is an important part of the CRO process, as it allows businesses to continuously refine the website in order to meet their conversion goals.
Once the changes have been tested and shown to improve conversions, businesses can analyze the results to further refine their approach.
This can help them to determine which elements, tactics, or combinations of both positively affect conversions.
For example, if a change to the CTA button resulted in a higher rate of conversion, it may be beneficial to experiment with using different colors or phrases.
In summary, conversion rate optimization is an important process for businesses to help maximize their results and stay ahead of the competition. The key to successful CRO is ongoing testing and analysis, as this enables businesses to refine their approach and ensure they’re putting their best foot forward.