How to Write Copy that Converts 
Actionable Insight From 6 Years of Testing 
CONVERSIONHOTEL 
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Control: Treatment: 
2 months data & 490 downloads
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Control: Treatment: 
2 months data & 490 downloads 
No Real Difference
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STUPID!!!
1. Conduct Research 2. Hypothesize 3. Create Treatment 
4. Test Treatment 5. Analyze 5. Run Followup 
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Experiment
30% increase in purchases 
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Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(98% 
3 full weeks (3 business cycles) 
18035 visitors / 247 conversions
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Control: Treatment: 
29.73% increase in purchases 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(98%
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Focus on Optimizing Decisions 
- Not Web Copy
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Variant A: Variant B:
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31,54% increase in signups 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(99% 
Variant Conversion 
Rate 
Standard 
Error 
Relative 
Difference 
Confidence 
Level Test Duration 
Control 1.98 % 0 % 
Treatment 2.58 % 0 % +35.19% 99 % 14 days/2 cycles 
Sample: 10059 visitors / 226 sign-ups
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Make Sure you Know Your 
Conversion Goals!
1. 
Subject Line 
2. 
Newsletter 
3. 
Product 
Overview 
4. 
Product Page 
5. 
Basket 
6. 
Checkout 
Step1 
7. 
Checkout 
Step 2 
8. 
Checkout 
Step 3 
9. 
Payment 
10. 
$$$ 
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Control:
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Control: 
Treatment:
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Control: 
Treatment: 
23.88% increase in open rate 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(95%
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Control:
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Control: 
Treatment:
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Control: 
Treatment: 
8,5% increase in CTR 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(95%
Stop Guessing - Start Hypothesizing 
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A solid test hypothesis is an informed solution 
to a real problem - not an random guess. 
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1. The change 
2. How it will affect your prospects 
3. The impact you expect to see
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By changing ______ into, ______ I can get more 
prospects to ______ and thus increase _______.
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By adding ______, I can get more prospects to 
______ and thus increase _______.
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By removing ______, I can get more prospects to 
______ and thus increase _______.
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By adding a privacy policy, I can reduce friction, get more 
prospects to give me their info, and thus increase sign-ups.
100% privacy - we will never spam you! 
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Control: Treatment:
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Control: Treatment: 
18,70%'drop'in'sign0ups 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(96%
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By removing the word “spam” and adding a guarantee, I 
can reduce friction, get more prospects to give me their 
information, and thus increase sign-ups.
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Control: Treatment: 
We guarantee 100% privacy. Your 
information will not be shared
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Control: Treatment: 
19.47% increase in sign-ups 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(96%
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By removing the guarantee, and adding the word “spam” I can 
increase friction, get less prospects to give me their information, 
and thus decrease sign-ups.
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24%'drop'in'downloads 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(99% 
1 month of data / 349 conversions
Think in Terms of Adjusting Friction 
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Motivation - Friction = Conversion
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Motivation - Friction = Conversion
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Motivation - Friction = Conversion
Motivation + the Right Amount of Friction 
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= Conversion
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Subject line: Meet your new favorite jeans. They’re all $49.90! 
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Variant A: Variant B:
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Variant B: 
14.79%'increase'in'conversion 
The(treatment(with(“Get”(increased( 
conversions(by(14.79% 
Variant Conversion 
Rate 
Realitive 
Difference 
Confidence 
Level 
Test 
Period 
Control 3.54 % 
Treatment 4.06 % +14.79% 95 % 30 days 
Sample: 14230 unique visits / 541 conversions
YOU WORK OUT SMARTER AT 
FITNESS WORLD 
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Control: 
Treatment: 
GROUP TRAINING & FITNESS 
AT YOUR LOCAL GYM
YOU WORK OUT SMARTER AT 
FITNESS WORLD 
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Control: 
Treatment: 
GROUP TRAINING & FITNESS 
AT YOUR LOCAL GYM
YOU WORK OUT SMARTER AT 
FITNESS WORLD 
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Control: 
Treatment: 
GROUP TRAINING & FITNESS 
AT YOUR LOCAL GYM 
38.46% increase in memberships sold 
During(the(campaign,(the(treatment(sold(38.46%( 
more(gym(memberships
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Control: Treatment: 
29.73% increase in purchases 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(98%
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Control: Treatment: 
18,70%'drop'in'sign0ups 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(96%
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In-field
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Left-aligned
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Top-aligned
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Right-aligned
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WINNER
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Control: Treatment: 
LOSER
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Increase Clarity
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Clarity Trumps 
Persuasion. 
Flint McGlaughlin - MECLABS
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YOU WORK OUT SMARTER AT 
FITNESS WORLD 
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Control: 
Treatment: 
GROUP TRAINING & FITNESS 
AT YOUR LOCAL GYM 
38.46% increase in memberships sold 
During(the(campaign,(the(treatment(sold(38.46%( 
more(gym(memberships
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Control (with steps): Treatment (no steps): 
12.5%'drop'in'comple<on'rate 
Sta$s$cal(Confidence(Level(99% 
1 month’s data / 500+ conversions 
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Let the Data Tell You What to Test 
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Test Your Hypotheses Via 
Multiple Channels
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Test Messaging Online Before 
You Spend Tons of Money on 
Offline Campaigns
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Steal From Your Target Audience
Focus on Mission-Critical Elements 
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A Dead Simple Technique for Coming 
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Up With Solid Hypotheses
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1. Who? 
2. Why? 
3. What? 
4. How?
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1. Who? 
Who is visiting my landing page?
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2. Why? 
Why are they visiting my landing page/website? 
Why would they want want I’m offering them? 
Why would they say yes? 
Why would they say no?
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3. What? 
What do my prospects need to know in order to say yes? 
What should I focus on in order to convey the value of my? 
What should I focus on in order to overcome the main 
reasons that they would say no? 
What ‘s going to happen after they say yes? 
What is this page missing / what should I add? 
What should I remove from this page?
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4. How? 
How should I optimize this page (step) in order to get 
more prospects to say yes?
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Thanks for listening! 
Thanks for listening! 
CONVERSIONHOTEL 
Read My Blog: 
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Keep in touch: 
michael@contentverve.com 
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Conversion Hotel 2014: Michael Aagaard (DK) keynote