Website Optimizer – How to use Google’s free tool in WordPress

Website Optimizer is a free tool that comes with Google AdWords and Analytics. Here is how you can run A/B variation tests in dynamic php pages of WordPress.

We will show the example of using Website Optimizer from Google Analytics account.

Why and who need Website Optimizer to test ?

Any commercial website, where there is a conversion like clicking “buy it” and then really buying it. Website Optimizer can effectively report who is performing better if a control page, a variation page and a conversion page is added.

Other than that, blogs with more than 2000 uniques (although any number can test) can run this Website Optimizer tool to do A/B variation test. More bigger will be the sample size (visitors), more accurate reporting from Website Optimizer can be expected.

Understanding User’s knowledge and probable problems with Website Optimizer

One who is running Website Optimizer might face a slower loading time of those pages where Website Optimizer scripts are added. Directly or indirectly, a small decrease in number of visitors might happen.

The user who will use Website Optimizer needs advanced understanding of Statistical data that will be generated by Website Optimizer. There are misconceptions like using Website Optimizer increases AdSense revenue, Google search sends more traffic etc. Basically all are worthless. Other than knowledge about statistics, some basic knowledge of HTML is needed, some knowledge on SEO is needed as well, otherwise using Website Optimizer will be valueless.

As WordPress delivers dynamic php pages, it is very tricky to use Website Optimizer, simply because you need to add the scripts on specific page headers, not to each and every pages. We will use two WordPress Plugins along with a semi-static home.php or index.php as front page, as it is the extreme case.

Multivariate Experiment with Website Optimizer is a fantastic offering, but unfortunately we found no easy way to implement it, simply it is very difficult to target a portion.

Steps to implement A/B Experiment with Website Optimizer in WordPress

First you need an Analytics account, where you will find the link to Website Optimizer or simply click this link to Google Website Optimizer.

Understand which page or post is suitable for setting as control; a conversion page, we will show homepage in this example, which is not good though from analytical point, but from technical point it is difficult to implement, that is why we will show it so that you can use Website Optimizer in any situation. Last is one or more Variation pages.

Now create an A/B Experiment :

Click it, accept the legal stuffs like page and this page will open :

After clicking Continue Button, we will get “who will use” like page, select option and continue to arrive at this page of website optimizer:

Download this Plugin named Google Website Optimizer which will allow you to add the scripts of Website Optimizer on any specific page or post. You will get lot of scripts enough to make your head spinning if you stop at this line and try to add these scripts in your WordPress blog in a setting where you want to make your Homepage as conversion page.

To solve this situation we have used Header and Footer plugin which will enable you to add the Website Optimizer scripts specifically on the home page.