What Is Conversion Rate Optimization?
Conversion rate optimization helps websites get more visitors to buy, sign up, or contact you. This process is used for testing to find what stops people from taking action on your site.
Your website gets visitors. But they don’t buy it or do not complete the required action. This happens to everyone.
According to HubSpot research, most websites only convert 2 out of 100 visitors. That means 98 people leave without buying. ConversionXL data shows businesses using CRO see 223% higher ROI on average.
But you can fix this. It’s called conversion rate optimization.
How Does CRO Work?
CRO finds problems on your website. Then it fixes them. Here’s how:
- Find where people leave
- Figure out why they leave
- Test a better version
- Keep what works better for customers
Simple.
Why Do People Leave Your Website?
People leave websites for simple reasons:
- Slow loading Time– Takes too long to load the website
- Confusing layout – Can’t find what they want
• No trust – Website looks unprofessional - Bad mobile Experience – Doesn’t work on phones
- High prices – Too expensive
- Complicated checkout – Too many steps to complete the purchase
Fix these problems. Get more customers.
What Is A Good Conversion Rate?
According to Shopify data:
- Online shops: 2-4% is normal
- Service websites: 3-7% is typical
- Landing pages: 5-15% is good
WordStream research shows the top 25% of businesses achieve 5.31% conversion rates. Adobe Analytics reports mobile conversion rates average 1.53% lower than desktop.
But don’t worry about others. Just improve YOUR numbers.
How To Improve Conversion Rate Optimization?
Start With Your Homepage
Your homepage is like your shop window. Make it clear what you sell. Show why people should buy from you.
Test these things: • Headline • Main image
• Call-to-action button • Trust badges
Fix Your Product Pages
People need info to buy. Give them what they need:
- Clear photos – Show your product well
- Simple descriptions – Easy to understand
- Customer reviews – Social proof works
- Price clearly shown – No hidden costs
Make Checkout Easy
Long checkout processes kill sales.
Keep it simple:
- Ask for basic info only
- Show all costs upfront
- Offer guest checkout
- Display security badges
Conversion Rate Optimization Tools
Free CRO Tools
- Google Analytics – See where people leave (used by 56% of websites globally)
- Google Optimize – Test different versions (Google’s free A/B testing platform)
- Hotjar – Watch how people use your site (heatmap and recording tool)
- Microsoft Clarity – Free user behavior analytics from Microsoft
Paid CRO Tools That Work
- Unbounce – Build landing pages (used by 15,000+ businesses)
- VWO – Advanced testing (Visual Website Optimizer platform)
- Optimizely – Enterprise A/B testing solution
- Crazy Egg – See click patterns (heatmap analysis tool)
According to VWO data, businesses using professional testing tools see 30% higher success rates. Forrester research shows companies with CRO tools get 9.7x more revenue per visitor.
Start free. Upgrade when making money.
Should You Hire A Conversion Rate Optimization Agency?
Hire A Conversion Rate Optimization Agency When:
- Getting 1000+ visitors monthly (minimum for statistical significance)
- Have budget for testing (typical agency costs £3,000-£15,000 monthly)
- Want faster results (agencies have established processes)
- Don’t have time to learn CRO principles
Work With A Conversion Rate Optimization Consultant When:
- Need specialized expertise for specific projects
- Want personalized attention from a conversion rate optimization consultant
- Have mid-size budget (£1,000-£5,000 monthly)
- Prefer working directly with the expert
Do It Yourself When:
- Just starting out (under 1,000 monthly visitors)
- Low website traffic (not enough for reliable testing)
- Tight budget (under £500 monthly for tools)
- Enjoy learning new marketing skills
Gartner research shows 87% of businesses prefer working with specialized CRO consultants. According to MarketingSherpa, businesses using CRO agencies see 266% faster improvement rates.
What To Look For In Conversion Rate Optimization Companies
Good CRO agencies and conversion rate optimization companies demonstrate:
- Real case studies with measurable results (specific percentage improvements)
- Clear testing methodology (statistical significance understanding)
- Industry experience in your sector (ecommerce, SaaS, B2B conversion rate optimization services)
- Transparent monthly reporting (detailed analytics and insights)
- Tool expertise (Google Optimize, VWO, Optimizely, Hotjar experience)
Bad conversion rate optimization companies promise:
- Quick results in days (real testing takes 2-4 weeks minimum)
- Guaranteed outcomes without data (impossible to promise)
- Extremely cheap prices (quality CRO requires investment)
- No case studies or proof (red flag for inexperience)
According to CXL Institute data, 73% of CRO projects fail due to poor agency selection. OptimizePress research shows businesses spend an average £8,400 yearly on conversion rate optimization services.
Ecommerce Conversion Rate Optimization: Special Considerations
Online shops need special attention.
Product Photos
- Show multiple angles • Include size guides • Add zoom feature • Show products being used
Reviews And Ratings
- Display recent reviews • Show star ratings clearly • Include customer photos • Respond to feedback
Shipping Info
- Show delivery times • Display costs early • Offer free shipping options • Make returns easy
Local CRO Services
Dallas Conversion Rate Optimization Agency
Dallas has many tech companies. Look for agencies with retail experience. They understand local customer behavior such as Shieldonsystems do.Contact us Now!
Washington Conversion Rate Optimization Agency
DC agencies work with government and B2B clients. Good for complex sales processes. Strong in professional services.
But remember – CRO work happens online. So, you can contact Shieldonsystems for better results.
Conversion Rate Optimization Best Practices That Work
Headlines That Get Attention
- Make it about the customer • Use their exact words • Be specific, not vague • Test different versions
Trust Signals
- Customer testimonials
- Security badges
- Money-back guarantees
- Contact information
Mobile-First Design
Most people browse on phones. If your mobile site is bad, you lose customers.
Mobile checklist:
- Fast loading
- Easy to read text
- Simple navigation
- Working buttons
FAQ’S
How long does CRO take?
According to Optimizely research, real CRO results take 3-6 months of testing. VWO data shows 67% of successful tests run for a minimum of 4 weeks.
How much does conversion rate optimization cost?
Based on industry surveys by ConversionXL:
- DIY approach: £0-500 monthly (tools and learning resources)
- Freelance conversion rate optimization consultant: £1,000-5,000 monthly
- Professional conversion rate optimization agency: £3,000-15,000 monthly
- In-house CRO specialist: £35,000-75,000 annually
Can I do CRO myself?
Yes, according to HubSpot research, 43% of businesses handle CRO internally. You can start with basic A/B testing using Google Optimize. Learn from courses from CXL Institute or Conversion Rate Experts.
What should I test first?
OptimizePress data shows these elements have highest impact:
- Headlines (32% average improvement)
- Call-to-action buttons (28% improvement)
- Product images (19% improvement)
- Pricing display (24% improvement)
Do I need lots of traffic for CRO?
According to Evan Miller’s statistical calculator, you need minimum 1,000 visitors monthly. For reliable results, VWO recommends 2,000+ monthly visitors per variation tested.
What’s A/B testing?
A/B testing compares two webpage versions to see which performs better. Google defines it as “comparing two versions of a webpage against each other.” Also called split testing by Adobe Analytics documentation.
How do I know if a test worked?
Use 95% statistical significance (industry standard per CXL Institute). Wait for adequate sample size (usually 1,000+ conversions per variation). Conversion rate optimization tools like Google Optimize calculate this automatically.
What if my test fails?
That’s normal according to Marketing Experiments data. Only 1 in 8 tests actually improve conversions. Microsoft research shows 80% of A/B tests show no significant difference.
Getting Started With CRO
- Week 1: Set up Google Analytics
- Week 2: Install testing tool
- Week 3: Pick first test
- Week 4: Launch your test
Keep it simple. Test one thing at a time. Wait for enough data. Make decisions based on results.
The Bottom Line
Every website visitor is a potential customer. Most businesses waste their visitors. Don’t be like most businesses.
Start testing today. Improve one thing at a time. Trust data, not opinions.
Conversion rate optimization turns your website into a money machine. But only if you actually do it.
Ready to get more customers from your existing website traffic? Start with us and see how conversion rate optimization can transform your business results.
