Site optimizer
Site optimizer is a tool that enables A/B testing of merchandising offers for your online store to help you determine which offers work best on your storefront. A/B testing compares multiple offers simultaneously to randomly selected groups of shoppers. The A/B testing approach provides a unique and effective way to optimize online store performance because it is metrics-driven, objective, and more efficient than other site optimization techniques.
1. A computer system based including a server with a processor and a memory, having a site optimizer integrated with an electronic commerce platform, the site optimizer comprising:
test creation software module stored in the server memory and containing program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of configuring a site optimizer test having a first and a second offer cell and a site traffic segmentation rule that defines a percentage of incoming site traffic to direct to the first offer cell and a remaining percentage of incoming site traffic to direct to the second offer cell such that 100 percent of incoming site traffic is defined to be directed to one of the first and the second offer cells; and
test deployment module stored in the server memory and containing program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of executing the site optimizer test by randomly assigning one of the first and second offer cells to each shopping session in accordance with the site traffic segmentation rule such that a shopper is directed to only one assigned offer cell within the site optimizer test, the test deployment module maintaining continuity of the offer cell for a particular shopper throughout each shopping session by checking for an offer cell assignment cookie for the particular shopper which stores the offer cell assignment and utilizing such stored offer cell assignment for the shopping session when the cookie exists, and the test deployment module setting a cookie as a unique session identifier for a shopping session when no offer cell assignment cookie exists for the particular shopper.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of creating a site optimizer test having a third offer cell.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of creating each offer cell based on an existing product catalog associated with the electronic commerce platform.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of creating each offer cell with a particular offer type, the particular offer type being selected from a group consisting of: content, product discount, order discount, product shipping discount, order shipping discount, cross-sell, up-sell, and bundle products.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of creating a first and a second siteflow within site optimizer test, each siteflow comprising a collection of action handlers that determine a sequence of interactions with a shopper.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of selecting offer related parameters for each offer cell.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the test creation software module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of obtaining user input when defining the site traffic segmentation rule.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the test deployment module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of clearing an existing cookie after an order is completed.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the test deployment module further comprises program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of gathering test statistics about the site optimizer test.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the test deployment module further comprises a reporting module containing program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of generating reports about the site optimizer test based on the gathered test statistics.
11. A method for optimizing a storefront site associated with an electronic commerce platform, the method comprising steps of:
configuring a site optimizer test having a first and a second offer cell and a site traffic segmentation rule that defines a percentage of incoming site traffic to direct to the first offer cell and a remaining percentage of incoming site traffic to direct to the second offer cell such that 100 percent of incoming site traffic is defined to be directed to one of the first and the second offer cells;
executing the site optimizer test by randomly assigning one of the first and second offer cells to each shopping session in accordance with the site traffic segmentation rule such that a shopper is directed to only one assigned offer cell within the site optimizer test;
maintaining continuity of the offer cell for a particular shopper throughout each shopping session by:
checking for an offer cell assignment cookie for the particular shopper which stores the offer cell assignment and utilizing such stored offer cell assignment for the shopping session when the cookie exists; and
setting a cookie as a unique session identifier for each shopper session when no offer cell assignment cookie exists for the particular shopper.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises creating a site optimizer test having a third offer cell.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises creating each offer cell based on an existing product catalog associated with the electronic commerce platform.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises creating each offer cell with a particular offer type, the particular offer type being selected from a group consisting of: content, product discount, order discount, product shipping discount, order shipping discount, cross-sell, up-sell, and bundle products.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises creating a first and a second siteflow within site optimizer test, each siteflow comprising a collection of action handlers that determine a sequence of interactions with a shopper.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises selecting offer related parameters for each offer cell.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring step comprises obtaining user input when defining the site traffic segmentation rule.
18. The method of claim 11 further comprising a step of clearing an existing cookie after an order is completed.
19. The method of claim 11 further comprising a step of gathering test statistics about the site optimizer test.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of generating reports about the site optimizer test based on the gathered test statistics.