Research Briefs

It’s the nightmare scenario for any analyst or executive: Making what seems to be the right decision, only to find out it was based on false data. Through online optimization testing, we try to discover which webpage or email message…

How important is PPC relevance and how can you manipulate it to your advantage while maintaining a positive ROI? Anyone who has set up or managed a paid search campaign can testify that there is an art form involved in realizing the…

EDITOR'S NOTE: We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this clinic here: Creating Effective Incentives We are all familiar with the concept of using incentives,…

We approached the study of Friction by asking and then answering the following three key questions: The Questions: What is sales process Friction? How does Friction in the sales process affect conversion? And, most importantly…

EDITOR’S NOTE: You can listen to a recording of the clinic by using the link below. Harnessing Social Media Web 1.0 was the Web in its infancy, its first developmental stage. “Web 2.0” was coined by O’Reilly Media in 2004.…

We examine research findings to discover what factors determine the efficacy of online marketing email copy. Which will perform better, a landing page that has one clear objective or one that has multiple objectives? As marketers,…

We examine research findings to discover what factors determine the efficacy of online marketing email copy. We examine research findings to discover what factors reduce “bounce” rate and keep visitors continuing through the…

We examine research findings to discover what factors determine the efficacy of online marketing email copy. EDITOR'S NOTE: The live clinic where this research was presented included practical application of the essential…

We examine research findings to discover what factors determine the efficacy of online marketing email copy. EDITOR'S NOTE: The live clinic where this research was presented included practical application of the essential principles…

We examine research findings to discover which ads perform better, those that "stand out" from host site content or those that "blend in". EDITOR'S NOTE: This Research Brief was also presented as a live Web clinic. You can download…

We examine how technology itself can present barriers to conversion. The architecture we use to manage our business may not be the same structure we should use to market it. Our business is to serve our customers, make it easy for…

We examine how reducing customer anxiety by matching your site's appearance to prospects' preconceptions and expectations increases conversion to sale. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a 1,500-word version ("Brief") of a 10,000-word live…

Dear Reader: Our 2007 Merchandising Calendar is presented below. After the calendar itself you will find our supplemental notes, findings, and data. This includes 11 key points to help you effectively apply the merchandising calendar to…

Can copy and design changes alone significantly lift the performance of free trial offer pages? Many online services offer a free trial as their primary incentive to attract new subscribers. Generally, a free trial offer works well.…

Can online marketers achieve a worthwhile return on investment with smaller PPC engines like Kanoodle, Miva and others? We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this…

Tens of millions of people watch these short videos, but how effective are they at driving qualified traffic to web sites? We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this…

Which gives the best return on your investment - Pay per Click advertising, or building strong affiliate partnerships? We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this clinic…

How to increase conversion rates with real and implied Urgency. We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this clinic here: Testing The Power Of Urgency On Landing Pages In…

How to create a simple metrics dashboard to track what really matters. You can listen to a recording of this clinic here: Essential Metrics for Online Marketers Many marketers feel overwhelmed by the volume of data generated…

We recently released the audio recording of our clinic on this topic. You can listen to a recording of this clinic here: Landing Pages 2006 Pt.2 Part 1 of the Optimizing Landing Pages brief is available here Test 1: Developing…