[Ben]

Has anyone got any experience of using Google's website optimizer with Volusion?
I've only just started looking at it and it looks genuinely awesome in the true sense of the word.
If anyone can point me in the right direction about where to put the scripts on test pages etc I'd be most grateful.

[carsonreinke]

Yes, we have used it with Volusion. What are you trying to test?

[Ben]

thanks for the reply, I'm trying to run a multivariable test on various aspects of our home page.
I'm having trouble installing the code.
the control and section scripts are fine, I put the control script in Article 2, and the section script tags around the parts I want to change.
google is validating them ok.


The problem is with the tracker code, I can't get google to see the tracking code on my homepage or my goal (order finished) page.

I did a bit of research and I suspect it may be down to our existing analytics code.

Any pointers would be great.

[carsonreinke]

Well, analytics should not effect the Website optimizer, but you never know. It sounds like you have done everything correct, adding the appropriate script to initiate for that section and adding the script to when the conversion was completed (i.e. OrderFinished.asp). In order to get Website Optimizer to verify that it is truly there, you probably need to upload an HTML file, which I believe is one of the options. As far as I know, if it is not verified it will not work.

Also, check for JavaScript errors with Firebug, just to make sure the JavaScript is executing correctly.

[Ben]

thanks for the heads up on firebug, I hadn't seen it before but I can see it being very useful indeed.

Out of curiosity, what did you test, and where did you put the code?

If I don't get anywhere I'll try uploading html files instead.

I recently read a book called Super Crunchers, it's all about random testing and statistical analysis and it's got me all fired up about optimising our sites, if I can get this to work it will take alll the guesswork and arguments out of the process.

[carsonreinke]

We tested banners on the home page with the same Articles as you. We were able to receive good data from it. It is the way to go.

[Ben]

thanks again for the reply, I'm still getting nowhere, the control script and section scripts are working fine in article 2, but the tracking script in article 71 isn't being validated, it's telling me "Tracking script not detected on test page" even though I can see it when I view the page source code.

I suspect that the script needs to go further down the page, ideally just above the closing body tag. I can't see a way of doing this without putting it on the main template but this will make it appear on every page.

[carsonreinke]

Oh, I forgot, that is the page you need to save. Either put in a test order or view an old order, view the order finished page and save it as an HTML file. Provide that file for the validation of the conversion script, then it will work (hopefully )

[michaelene]

I'm trying to figure out how to install the Google website optimizer code for testing two different landing (category) pages.

Is this possible?

Volusion support said no...

Thanks!

[carsonreinke]

Hmmm, I think this might be possible. This would be considered A/B testing. I have never tried it though, but hardest part would be probably getting the validation through by Google.