CRO / Conversion Rate Optimization

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Explained

Having a website with lots of visitors is great, but how many of them actually complete the goals you set? Conversion Rate Optimization, or CRO, is all about making sure more visitors take action.

This could mean more purchases on your website, but also better results from emails or marketing campaigns.

How Does CRO Work?

There are many ways to improve conversion rates. Here are a few examples:

A/B Testing

By taking your best performing version as a starting point and testing new variations against it, you can see what works better.

If you create a new version, you can show half of your visitors the original and the other half the new version.
For emails, you can send version A to ten percent of recipients and version B to another ten percent. If one performs better, you send that version to the remaining eighty percent.

Preventing Drop-Offs

With tools like Google Analytics, you can see where visitors leave your website. If people land on a broken page, they will probably leave. Fixing these errors can instantly improve results.

Useful tools to spot website issues:

  • ContentKing: monitors your website and sends alerts if something is wrong
  • Screaming Frog: scans your website for errors, useful for live and test versions

How to Use CRO Effectively?

In 1943, Abraham Maslow introduced a pyramid of human needs. In 2011, Aarron Walter adapted this idea for user experience in his book Designing for Emotion. This model is a great way to prioritize CRO improvements.
pyramid maslow aarron walter
From the book Designing for Emotion (A Book Apart, Aarron Walter).

This Maslow Pyramid explained:

01

Functionality

If a website does not work properly, visitors will leave. No matter how great it looks, always start by making sure everything works.

02

Reliability

If a website crashes or a page looks broken, people lose trust. A stable experience is essential.

03

Usability

Visitors should find what they need without effort. Missing or confusing information can cause frustration and make people leave.

04

A little extra

Once a website is functional, reliable, and user-friendly, you can add elements that make it more engaging. Small details like animations or creative touches can make a big difference.

Want to learn more?

Conversion Rate Optimization is a broad topic with endless possibilities. If you would like advice or need help implementing CRO strategies, feel free to reach out via the form below
or call +31 651378397.