Optimize Your Website for Free

Is there nothing Google doesn’t do? Their latest is the Google Website Optimizer. Using this tool, you select sections of a Web page that you want to test and then develop options. For example, you might try three different headlines to see which one works best.

After you choose which section to test, you also choose a link that, when chosen, constitutes a success. For example, if you’re selling a product, you might select “add to shopping cart” link.

Then, you set up the page so that one of the three headlines is selected randomly. Google will keep track of how many times each headline is displayed and how many times a user adds a product to the shopping cart. So, after a time, you’ll know which headline works best.

Even if you’re not selling something, you can use this tool. Perhaps you’re trying to get people to sign an electronic petition, or you might be trying to get them to volunteer for your non-profit group. You can use this tool to help you tune your website to get the best response.