A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of comparing two versions of a product or service to determine which one performs better in terms of user engagement, conversion, or other key metrics. This is typically done by randomly assigning users to one of two groups, each of which is shown a different version of the product or service.
The two versions being tested can differ in a number of ways, such as the color of a button, the wording of a headline, or the layout of a webpage. By comparing the performance of the two versions, startups can gain insights into what elements of their product or service are most effective at driving user engagement and conversion.
A/B testing is commonly used in digital marketing, where it is used to optimize the performance of websites, emails, and other digital assets. However, it can be used in any industry where startups are looking to optimize the performance of their products or services.
A/B testing involves comparing two versions of a product or service, while multivariate testing involves comparing multiple versions of a product or service. A/B testing is generally simpler and easier to implement than multivariate testing, but may not provide as much detailed information.
The length of an A/B testing campaign can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the sample population and the expected impact of the changes being tested. Generally, testing campaigns should run for long enough to ensure that the results are statistically significant.
Startups can get started with A/B testing by identifying the key metrics they want to optimize, developing two versions of their product or service to test, and using an A/B testing tool to randomly assign users to one of the two groups.
A startup that sells subscriptions to a meditation app might use A/B testing to determine which version of their signup page results in the most conversions.
An e-commerce startup might use A/B testing to determine which color scheme results in the most purchases on their website.
An e-commerce startup might use A/B testing to determine which color scheme results in the most purchases on their website.
"Lean Analytics: Use Data to Build a Better Startup Faster" by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz
"Conversion Optimization: The Art and Science of Converting Prospects to Customers" by Khalid Saleh and Ayat Shukairy
"A/B Testing: The Most Powerful Way to Turn Clicks Into Customers" by Dan Siroker and Pete Koomen