| Today's Column: » The Sciences and Disciplines of Web Site Optimization |
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 ROI MARKETING
By Bryan Eisenberg, ClickZ, Jan 2, 2009 In the column, "Calling You to Action," I covered the basics of optimizing the calls to action on your site. The column prompted this comment from "Florida Design" that appears on our blog: I keep telling people this. I don't think that optimizing a site for conversion is a "Call to Action" science. It's a usability science. People aren't going to click something because its big round and yellow, and says "Click Me". The reason people click this types of links is because they're already looking for where to click, and you've just made it easier for them.I don't disagree; a button that is big, round, and yellow can make it easier for a visitor to follow that call to action. But optimizing a site for conversion is not just a usability science. Usability is its own discipline and science. And, of course, the science of usability is an important part of the broader scope of conversion optimization. In this 2005 column, I described how usability fits into the overall Web site optimization picture: Usability examines the site's interface and process barriers that keep visitors from accomplishing a conversion task. Usability is:The ability to effectively implement knowledge concerning the human-computer interface to remove any obstacles impeding the experience and process of online interactions... A usability test can't measure two key factors in the conversion process: persuasive momentum and individual motivation. A visitor's willingness to click through to a site and participate in its conversion processes is directly tied to her intent and motivations and the relevance of the product or service to her needs. The ability to use a Web site to accomplish a task valuable to a business goal is, no doubt, both a usability issue and a conversion optimization issues. But that doesn't mean every experience the visitor encounters on a site is a usability issue. That would be like saying merchandising and packaging at the neighborhood Target are usability issues. Most sites want to sell more or increase leads, and that requires the application of several disciplines and sciences. Here are just a few: Web Analytics and Analysis Here is more from the same 2005 column: According to (Jakob) Neilson, "In usability studies, participants easily pretend that the scenario is real and that they're really using the design." However, it's much harder for participants to fake a need they don't have. If you disliked pungent cheese and were asked to shop for the best Roquefort, could you simulate the actions a true cheese lover would take? Web analytics, on the other hand, track actual actions taken on your site from very large sample groups. They provide a true measure of activity and persuasive momentum. Couple usability testing with Web analytics for a more holistic picture of what is (or isn't) happening on your site. Web analytics provide the most accurate and objective measure of how individuals interact with a site. Usability studies provide insight into what's happening in particular instances. Copywriting and Direct Marketing Techniques I have already written a book and several columns (like "The Complexity of Closing a Sale," and "Gr8 Web 2.0 Copy" about the craft of writing persuasively online. Psychology My firm retains a consulting psychologist to advise in the science of human behavior. Florida Design's comment above read that 'they're already looking for where to click". And that is true in some cases, but how did the visitor come to know what they were looking for? Who or what sold them to hit the "buy now" button. What are they broadcasting they really need when they click on "learn more." Do they just want more data, or can we write that data in such a way that will move them to buy? Testing What header persuades more? What big yellow button moves more people to take a profitable action? What lead form fields work best for my visitors? These are all questions that cannot be answered by usability studies, but rather by some sort of A/B or multivariate testing. And any effective testing requires some sort of scientific rigor. Marketing and Selling These are also disciplines that are established and several proven methodologies existed long before the Internet age. The prominence of social media today and the baby giant of search engine marketing are beginning to gel into tougher and more accountable disciplines. The Lesson If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Web site optimization is way too broad to be a subset of another honorable science like usability or information architect. If you are struggling in your optimization efforts, it might be time to examine your tools. You could be trying to solve a copy issue with design tool. Or you could be using a design tool to solve a persuasion problem. Take the time to learn a little bit about all this disciplines so you can be sure you are using the right tool. » Print this article » Send article to a colleague » Post a comment Bryan Eisenberg is the cofounder of Future Now (OTCBB: FUTR), an interactive marketing optimization firm. It helps businesses generate more engagements, leads, subscriptions, and sales by using its unique Persuasion Architecture. Future Now uncovers improvement opportunities and helps businesses integrate technology, creativity, and marketing talent to continuously improve marketing efforts. Bryan is publisher of popular marketing optimization blog GrokDotCom. He is co-author of the "Wall Street Journal," "Business Week," "USA Today," and "New York Times" bestselling books "Call to Action," "Waiting For Your Cat to Bark," and "Always Be Testing." He is a sought-after speaker at major business conferences worldwide, having keynoted events for Search Engine Strategies, Shop.org, Direct Marketing Association, MarketingSherpa, E-consultancy, Webcom, and the Canadian Marketing Association. Future Now's clients, including NBC Universal, HP, GE, WebEx, Overstock, and Dell, have consistently enjoyed dramatic improvement in sales using the Persuasion Architecture process. Article Archives by Bryan Eisenberg:
» Three SEM Tips for Big Media Sites - Erik Dafforn
» Time for Analytics to Come in From the Cold - Neil Mason |
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