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Google Launches Website Optimizer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the yet-another-fine-google-service dept.

Rockgod writes "Google Analytics Senior Manager Brett Crosby unveiled the tool, called Google Website Optimizer, this morning at the eMetrics summit in Washington D.C. If you find web site traffic heat maps like CrazyEgg, ClickDensity or Google Analytics' own heat map interesting, this looks like the next generation of that kind of tool. If Google's Website Optimizer can score high on usability, I expect it to be a big hit with small and medium size website publishers."

9 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. That's great and all... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... but what is it?

    1. Re:That's great and all... by setirw · · Score: 5, Informative

      It supposedly can determine which home pages make the greatest impression on users. I agree with you, though, that this should have been included in the summary, which is meaningless.

      --
      This message printed on 100% post-consumer recycled electrons.
  2. Yes.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..but is it beta?

  3. Re:Optimising Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hilarious!

    Now... did you actually look at the site? It's nothing to do with HTML validation, and therefore has nothing whatsoever to do with the W3C's HTML Validation Service. :-P

  4. This may be useful by x-vere · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think this is cool. Google Adwords is somewhat of a statistical pain in the butt. I've spent hours upon hours of my life analyzing keywords, click rates, etc. for pushing more traffic to various sites on the web. If this tool eases that pain, even just a little, I say it is a good thing. Google needs us to succeed with AdWords as much as we want to succeed.

    --
    One day the toilets of the world will rise up... And I'm going to nuke them.
  5. Re:Optimising Slashdot by tuomasr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well, it seems that this is a tool for AdWords users. The demo says "Google AdWords Website Optimization" and the sign-up thing reads:

    We're currently accepting sign-ups from AdWords Advertisers who are interested in participating in this beta test. We may not be able to guarantee invitations to everyone, but will be working hard to make this tool generally available to all AdWords customers in the near future.

    The front-page is misleading though, as it doesn't state anything about AdWords.

  6. In other news... by noname4444 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Google's new website optimizer suddenly quits after being run against MySpace. It's been reported the optimizer was later heard weeping, as well as muttering "the horror."

  7. Re:Enhancing your ability to get ads by paralaxcreations · · Score: 5, Interesting

    actually, google analytics does help you. Website statistics help the web master know what visitors do and do not want to see. Allowing google analytics to track your anonymous movement through a site ultimately leads to a more fulfilling user experience.

    At my job, I am rather far removed from the finances, yet I am supposed to decide what and how to market. Analytics lets me do that by tracking what sells, when it sells, etc.

    Does it help Google? Of course. But it also helps the webmaster of the sites you visit to create sites you want to see.

  8. Re:"algorithm" ..or google users? by tolan-b · · Score: 5, Informative

    No the way it works is that you identify parts of a page that you want to experiment with with tags, include a javascript library on it and a conversion page, and then tell google what variations on the tagged item (alternate headlines for example) you want to test.

    When someone goes to that page, google will randomly select one of your alternate headlines and replace the original one with it. It'll then check if that person buys something (or subscribes or whatever).

    It then gives you a report of which variations lead to the most conversions.