08/19/2022

Website Testing Methods That Will Make Your Site Stand Out

Insights

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Websites that perform poorly can’t be blamed for all the testing options we have.

Although it may sound harsh, it is quite true.

You can use any of these methods to ensure the best possible site results, regardless of whether you are a consultant, small-business owner, or agency that creates websites for clients.

Engaging in different types of website testing is essential if you want to increase traffic, conversions, and sales or return on investment.

Why do you need to run tests on your website

Simply put, successful websites don’t exist in a vacuum.

You can’t know what your website will do until you start attracting people to it.

Only when people engage and land – or don’t – and start converting, or bouncing, can critical data be gleaned.

These data can help you make informed decisions about your website such as:

  • You can keep or simplify your primary menu
  • Deciding whether your content is of sufficient quality and if it needs to be modified or made longer
  • You can use image quality assessment to identify images that need to be deleted, moved, or added.

Website testing is another way to describe the troubleshooting process. It is about determining if your site is easy to use, user-friendly, attractive, and useful enough for visitors to return.

Technically speaking, this is about improving the user experience (UX), basic functionality and accessibility, as well as responsiveness to various Internet-ready devices.

You can test your website to find the perfect colors, navigation flow, and correct grammar and spelling errors, as well as assess the viability and effectiveness of links and contact forms.

Website testing can sound time-consuming, but it is worth the effort.

A UX Measure study found that a simple 10% improvement in a company’s customer experience score could translate into over $ 1 billion. Remote UX testing was also a technique that ClickMechanic used to increase its web conversions by 50%. 

Different Types Of Testing and Why They Are Used

Website testing can be done in many ways, which is why we won’t cover them all. There are technical tests that check the integrity of your database and server, as well as security tests to prevent fraud.

However, we’re focusing now on user experience, usability, and customer-friendliness. These tests will help you create a pleasant online environment that your customers love.

Speed

A mere 1 or 2-second delay in loading your page can severely impact your site’s conversion rate.

You can find out how fast your site loads using a tool such GTMetrix. This tool combines Google’s PageSpeed tool and the open-source project YSlow. The tool can help you identify and fix any issues that may be causing slow-loading sites.

Websites that have dead links are considered unprofessional and rude. Broken links, whether internal or external, will not be tolerated by site visitors.

The Dead Link Inspector can help you identify every 403 or 404 error that could be causing your site to become unusable and turn off visitors. These links can be repaired to make your site more user-friendly.

Mobile Testing

Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test will let you know if your site is compatible with all devices, desktop, and mobile.

The mobile-friendly tool is similar to the speed-check tool. It will show you why your website isn’t mobile-friendly and give you some tips on how to fix it.

Heatmaps

Kobe Digital was the first company to create this web-based testing tool. A Heatmap is a visual report that helps determine how visitors interact with your website and individual pages.

This testing method allows you to monitor user behavior when people land on your site and navigate it. It focuses on the areas where they hover, clicks, fill out forms, and other details.

This data will help you to identify the best places to place calls–to–action images, important content, and other elements that can increase engagement and converts.

A/B Testing

A/B Testing is one of the most effective methods to improve conversion rates on your website.

This method involves you selecting a baseline control sample (such as a landing webpage) and then creating a similar landing page with variations such as bullets and altered images instead of a textbox. Then, you will test the samples against the same audience at different times of the day.

To determine which experience has the highest engagement and conversion rate, we then compare the control and variance.

Split Testing

Split testing is a great way to determine if one design direction is better than another.

Split testing, which is similar to A/B Testing, allows you to take two versions of the same landing pages, but you will change the headline of one variation.

Split testing can also be done by altering the image, offering block text instead of bullet points, or adding a form to replace a call to action button.

To determine which elements are most popular with your audience, you will test the control and variation.

Multivariate Testing

This method of testing website pages is used to test multiple variants of the same variable.

Multivariate testing takes A/B testing to a whole new level. This technique allows you to run multiple A/B tests at once.

For example, A/B testing could be done on variables such as button colors, number of form fields, and headline text. To get the best data, this type of testing will require a lot of traffic. You will need more traffic for the more variables you test.

Which type of testing is best for your needs?

You should use all these tests to find any potential sales leads or other opportunities.

You’ll find more areas where you can make improvements the more you test. You’ll soon have a website that is superior in performance and continues to deliver stellar results.

These are the Elements you Should Test to Get Maximum Results

You can A/B test your layout

The layout of your website is crucial for making a great first impression on all visitors who land. It will take some time to test every aspect of your site layout. You’ll need visitors to be able to interact with the site and provide data.

This data will tell you whether your menu is easy to use or difficult; if additional images are required or should be deleted; if the headline is click-worthy; and if your calls for action are located in the right places.

You can determine the impact each variation has on your audience by performing A/B testing. The layout that appeals to the most people will be the one you choose. This will result in fewer bounces and longer visits, as well as higher conversions.

CTA Testing

You can use heatmaps to test your calls to action. You can see where people are clicking on your website once the heatmap overlay has been added. CTA placement is best if there are high clicks in a specific area.

You can also use heatmaps to see how far users scroll down a page. You might want to place your CTA higher up on the page if you notice that people rarely scroll down a page.

Interface and Usability Testing 

This is a type of website testing that ensures your website is user-centric.

User testing focuses on user psychology. It addresses visitors’ goals and needs. This is then the foundation for ergonomics.

It is common for anyone, even a drunk, to be able to access your website. Your navigation should be clear and easy to use so visitors know exactly where to go.

Split testing, A/B testing, heatmaps, and heatmaps can all be used to determine the most appealing layout, colors, and other elements for users.

You should not discount the possibility of asking your audience for feedback on website functionality, such as image placement and colors. These data can be extremely useful in helping you to generate ideas that can be improved for mass appeal.

Testing Landing Page

Are your landing pages relevant to any link visitors who may click through to your page?

Is the headline relevant to the users’ needs? The most important thing is that if your landing pages aren’t converting well, there may be something wrong.

You can test your landing pages by A/B testing them to determine if they are in the right place and optimized for maximum impact.

Kobe Digital allows seamless testing. You can quickly change images, headlines, and text-based content, without having to know any programming. This makes it easy to determine which of your tests are performing best.

Three Testing Techniques to Improve Your Performance

1. Patch-Up Exit pages

Google Analytics allows you to view your Exit pages by going into Behavior>Site Content>Exit Page.

You will find all pages on your website that are popular with drop-offs.

The A/B test can be used to determine whether the page is too long or short, if there are too many information points, or if your headline is too punchy.

These tests will hopefully seal off exit pages, making your site more efficient.

2. Performance Improvements for Low-CR Performers

Google Analytics offers the opportunity to set conversion goals, which is one of the best features of Google Analytics. Once you have established your conversion goals, it is easy to identify which pages are not contributing enough towards your goal for more sales or revenue.

Split Testing and Heat Maps are useful tools to identify potential issues on low-converting pages. Heatmap testing can help you determine the level of engagement on the page. 

Split testing can be used to determine which elements receive the most clicks or hovers. CTAs that encourage strong and consistent action is also possible.

3. Use Recordings To Filter the Best Results

Kobe Digital has a recording feature that allows you to track user interactions with your site and monitor their reactions.

It will be possible to see how visitors use your menu and navigate to the next pages. You can also pinpoint where they get stuck. These sessions can be recorded and easily filtered by the system to identify bugs or other UX issues.

How to use Kobe Digital’s, Test Tool

When prompted, enter your URL to begin Kobe Digital testing.

After creating an account to sign up for your free 30-day trial, Kobe Digital will ask you a few questions about your website.

This will allow you to identify whether you wish to view your website as a desktop, tablet, or mobile user. You can also choose to report on all three devices.

After you have made your selections, your site will be identified as the tracking frequency. You can either start tracking visitors right away or schedule a testing program.

Remember that once your “Snapshot” is taken off your website and tracking has started, you cannot change the schedule.

The next step will take you to add tracking options such as custom URL tracking and pop-up blocking. These options will prove useful for different types of visitors and businesses. You can choose based on your audience preferences and goals.

Simply add the code provided by Kobe Digital to begin web tracking.

How Kobe Digital can help with user-interactive reporting

Kobe Digital offers a variety of heatmap reports. There are heatmaps and scroll maps as well as overlays and confetti.

These reports can help make your website more attractive and convert better than it already is.

Enhance the content of your site

You can use the Kobe Digital heatmap or scroll map reporting tools to find out where your audience is going.

This will help you to identify any areas where your website’s content may be lacking. This information will help you improve the information on your website to make it more useful and informative.

Qualify Images and Calls-to Action

Professional images can make your website stand out. Calls-to-action help converts visitors. However, the location of these elements is just as important as their clarity or relevance.

You can use overlay maps and scroll maps to determine the best places for images and CTAs.

Referral Sources and Other Criteria

The confetti report can help you learn more about your website. It breaks down the overlay report so that clicks are filtered according to their referral source.

Interactive Features

This list report will help you identify which elements of your website are the most engaging and click-worthy.

This data can then be A/B tested in real time with just a few mouse clicks.

What is the best frequency to run different types of tests?

You should run the testing reports for at least 60 days, or until at most 25,000 people have visited your site.

Conclusion

You can achieve your goals to increase usability and manage all risks by testing multiple types of your website.

This will help you to develop and grow your website into the best possible version for maximum success.

Website testing is essential if you want to keep the highest amount of visitors, convert the most customers and generate the highest revenue.

There are many easy-to-use tools available now. These tools include heatmaps and speed tests as well as mobile tests and speed tests.

Use them and you will soon have the best website possible. You’ll get higher conversion rates, more return on investment, and a better user experience.

About the author

Kobe Digital is a unified team of performance marketing, design, and video production experts. Our mastery of these disciplines is what makes us effective. Our ability to integrate them seamlessly is what makes us unique.