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Optimizely Review

Optimizely is a very cool A/B Test service. I've spent some time using it on my site for simple tests, and I really liked how the basics work. Unlike other services (in particular Google Website Optimizer), Optimizely only has one simple line to be added to every page you want to test. You don't have to go and add code for every single experiment. Making test pages is very easy too. As you can see in the image below, you can just load any page, and then click on any element to edit, add or change images or texts, or set any link as a goal.

After a test is started (which only takes a few clicks), data starts getting collected. After some time, you get a result page.

Result Page

I've used Optimizely for a few small tests. One was about changing the screenshot on my Print Folder product for a YouTube video tutorial. Results show that I get about 70% more downloads with the video version.

Conclusion

Since I saw the review of Optimizely on the Pro Web Design Course , I had to try. It just looked a whole lot better and easier than any of the other services. I really like Optimizely overall. It is incredibly easy to use, and require minimum effort for editing the page – which is a major plus if you are not used to editing HTML and CSS.

If you don't care about that, Google WebSite Optimizer can be a better option. You will save money every month – US$19 for Optimizely's basic plan, which does not include multivariate testing – and overall it seems to have more features. However, you are going to be paying a price on the time it takes to learn to use it, as well as time creating pages and coding for even minor changes.

I've tried Google WebSite Optimizer, and I've gone back to Optimizely.

Optimizely has a free 30-day trial, so I recommend you try them out.

 

By Luiz A D R Marques

I've been developing software and selling it on-line since 1994. Current products include STG FolderPrint Plus - a tool to Print Folders, and STGThumb - HTML Album Generator, among others. Some of my other sites - Disk Usage, Directory Printer ,Print Folders and Jejum Intermitente .

5 replies on “Optimizely Review”

[…] At this point, if you are following the lessons and assignments with the worksheets you should have a finished landing page design.  The final lessons cover slicing (cutting the page graphical elements to convert to HTML), usability and split testing (for split testing, I have used and recommend Optimizely – see my review for more details). […]

Luiz, thanks for the review!
I use a combination of Optimizely, Google Analytics and WebMeUp – works great for me.
This way I have SEO, usability and analytics covered.
Cheers,
Steve

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