Getting the Most Out of Google Optimize

Why Google Optimize?

• Google Ads Integrations – Optimise allows you to target users coming from a specific campaign, ad group or keyword. This allows for custom experiences for different users e.g. different messaging for Brand/Non-Brand traffic.

• Google Analytics Integrations – Optimize natively integrates with other Google solutions, allowing for deeper reporting & time saving efficiencies. Native integration across Google is one of the most attractive qualities of the platform. Unfortunately there’s no GA Audience targeting with the free version – but this is possible with Optimize 360.

• It’s Free! For small to medium sized enterprises, the free version should tick all the boxes – but if you’ve got a very advanced set-up, it’s likely you’ll need contact a Optimize 360 rep

What do You Need?

• Google Optimize
• Google Tag Manager
• Google Analytics

Setting Up an Experiment

Create an Experience

Experience Types

• A/B Testing – Tests two or more variants of a page
• Multivariate Testing – Tests variants with two or more different sections
• Redirect Test – Tests separate web pages identified by different URLs or paths
• Personalization – Personalize your page for targeted visitors
• Banner Template – Add a notification banner to the top of your website.

Choosing Your Rule Type

• Google Ads – Target Google Ads accounts, campaigns, ad groups, and keywords
• UTM Parameter – Target visitors based on the utm parameter
• Device Category – Target visitors using on mobile, tablet, or desktop devices
• Behaviour – Target new vs. returning visitors or those coming from specific referrers
• Geography – Target visitors from a specific city, metro, region or county
• Technology – Target visitors using a specific device, browser or OS

In our example, we’re going to choose Behaviour – in order to tailor our messaging for returning users.

Example of Customised Experience

Advertisers are able to edit their page’s content based on Behaviour e.g. for returning users.

This way, you can tailor user experiences – e.g. ‘Welcome back’ messaging for users who have visited your site before.

Advanced

• Query Parameter – Target based on a query parameter in the URL
• Data Layer Variable – Target based on key values stored in the data layer
• JavaScript Variable – Target a JavaScript variable in the source code of the webpage
• First Party Cookie – Target users that have a first-party cookie from your website
• Custom JavaScript – Target pages based upon a value returned by custom JavaScript

Example of Advanced Customised Experience

A host of information can be stored in the data layer – allowing for highly sophisticated customised user experiences. For example, custom messaging for signed in-users.

Very.co.uk are utilising this feature to have a personalised homepage message – using the signed-in customer’s name (Nicky), as well as personalised weather data (e.g. wrap up, its cold out there):

Summary

The seamless integration with other Google products (namely Google Analytics & Google Ads) and suite of optimisation/personalisation features makes for a powerful combination – and the fact the offering is free-to-use makes it even more attractive. As with all optimisation tools, it’s important to focus on meaningful tests – determine which metrics are important to you, your goals, and how the changes you’re making might affect user behavior.