🗓️ Tuesday, 25^th Feb 2025

Hi, and welcome back to Growth Espresso - your one-stop destination for everything e-com.

You ever stare at your website and think, Something’s off, but I don’t know what? Maybe conversions are meh, bounce rates are high, or people are adding to cart but ghosting before checkout.

Here’s the thing—sometimes, it’s not a massive overhaul that fixes it. It’s the tiny, almost stupidly simple changes that move the needle. A different popup. A new CTA. Moving a button three inches to the left.

But instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, you need data. That’s where A/B testing comes in.

The best part? You don’t have to start from scratch. I’ve got real-world examples from brands that tested, tweaked, and saw real results—so you can steal what works and skip the trial-and-error.

Let’s get into it.

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1. Plain Text vs. Image + Text in a Popup

Popups: annoying when done wrong, powerful when done right.

Danish running gear retailer Løbeshop wanted more email signups. They tested two popups: one with just text and one with an image + text.

📌 The result? The image version increased conversions by 0.8%—a small but solid win.

Why it works:

People process images faster than text. A strong visual makes your message easier to digest and more compelling.

🚀 Try this: If you’re using a plain text popup, test adding a relevant image. If you’re already using an image, try a different one—or go plain and see what happens.

2. Background Image Tweaks for Campaigns

Ever thought the background of your popup could impact conversions? Neither did Danish health brand Arono—until they tested it.

They ran the same exact signup popup with two different background images.

📌 The result? The first version converted 53% better than the second one.

Why it works:

Visuals set the tone. A background that blends too much can be ignored, while one that pops can drive more engagement.

🚀 Try this: Test a bold, high-contrast background vs. a softer one. Or experiment with patterns, colors, or lifestyle imagery.

3. Changing the Position of a Popup

Wallstickerland, an online store for home decor, had a popup that collected email signups. The question was—where should it sit on the screen?

So they tested it on the left side vs. the right side.

📌 The result? The right-side popup got 17% more signups than the left.

Why it works:

Most people read from left to right, and their attention naturally flows to the right-hand side of the screen.

🚀 Try this: Move your popups or CTAs to the right side of the screen and see if engagement improves.

4. Adjusting Promo Timing

Norwegian sports retailer Get Inspired runs weekly giveaways to grow their email list. But they weren’t sure which day of the week would get the most signups.

So they tested different days to announce the winner.

📌 The result? Simply shifting the promo day led to a noticeable conversion boost.

Why it works:

People’s online behavior shifts throughout the week. Mondays might work better for some brands, while Thursdays or weekends win for others.

🚀 Try this: If you run limited-time promos or giveaways, test different launch days to see when your audience is most engaged.

5. Grid Layout vs. Traditional Product Display

If your store looks cluttered, customers will bounce.

Socks brand SmartWool tested their product pages with and without a structured grid layout.

📌 The result? The grid layout increased revenue per visitor by 17.1%.

Why it works:

A clean, organized layout makes it easier for customers to scan and find what they want—leading to quicker (and more) purchases.

🚀 Try this: Test a structured, uniform grid vs. a more freeform layout and track engagement.

6. Adding Quick View for Products

Nobody likes clicking a product, waiting for the page to load, then going back to keep browsing. It’s annoying.

That’s why many brands test “quick view” popups, letting customers preview product details without leaving the page.

📌 The result? Top US ecommerce brands that offer quick view see higher engagement and conversion rates.

Why it works:

It removes friction. Customers can get the info they need fast, making it easier to compare products and add to cart.

🚀 Try this: If you don’t have quick view, test adding it. If you do, experiment with making the popups larger, faster, or more detailed.

7. Making Offers More Obvious at Checkout

Ever abandoned a cart because you forgot about free shipping?

Canadian retailer Sport Chek tested two ways of displaying their free shipping offer:

• A basic text message (“Free shipping on orders over $25”)

• A highlighted announcement (“🎉 Congratulations! You qualify for free shipping!”)

📌 The result? The highlighted version increased conversions by 7.3%.

Why it works:

Customers love feeling like they “earned” something. Plus, red borders and celebratory language grab attention.

🚀 Try this: If you offer free shipping or a discount, make it unmissable—test different wording, colors, or placements.

8. Tweaking CTA Text for More Clicks

You know how every website has “Buy Now” buttons? Turns out, even minor tweaks here can make a big difference.

Tool brand Dewalt tested two CTAs on their product pages:

• “Buy Now”

• “Shop Now”

📌 The result? “Buy Now” got 17% more clicks.

Why it works:

“Buy” signals immediate action, while “Shop” feels more passive. The clearer the CTA, the better.

🚀 Try this: Test variations like “Get Yours,” “Add to Cart,” or even subtle wording changes like “Buy Now” vs. “Order Now.”