A Guest Post Noah Rue
As an entrepreneur, sometimes it’s difficult to know what the next step in your business should be. Even a seemingly small decision could cost your business if it’s the wrong one.
For entrepreneurs who don’t want to lose customers, money, or their minds, A/B testing is the answer. When done regularly, the data analytics resulting from A/B testing can serve as the basis for your decisions. This may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Whether your business is a small startup or large organization, A/B testing is an essential part of your entrepreneur’s toolkit. When combined with predictive analysis, it can illuminate the path you need to take to reach your business goals.
What Is A/B Testing?
To start, A/B testing is a randomized experiment that measures the performance of one variant against another. Specifically, mobile A/B testing is an example of data mining (which we’ll cover in just a minute). As an entrepreneur, A/B testing should be an integral part of your marketing strategy.
In marketing, A/B testing is the process of, first, creating two variations of one thing (think mobile app forms, landing pages, or email subject lines) and, then, setting a trial period to see how your target audience reacts. It’s a low-risk way to help you learn the preferences of your target audience. If you’re struggling with content marketing, A/B testing can provide clarity.
According to Trust Insights contributor Katie Robberts, A/B testing should be done every quarter. Regular testing will help you stay competitive in your market and ensure you’re delivering what your target audience wants. Quarterly A/B testing is the first step towards consistently improving your metrics. If you’re developing a mobile app for your business, A/B testing can provide valuable insight and help optimize the user experience which, in turn, will likely lead to more revenue.
How Predictive Analysis Can Help You
While systemic A/B testing alone can provide valuable insight, predictive analysis takes the usefulness of the data to the next level. If A/B testing reveals your target audience’s preferences in real-time, predictive analysis can show you how they will respond well into the future based on current and historical data. Predictive analysis is all about making the data work for you so you can make decisions about your business with confidence.
Diving a little deeper, predictive analysis examines patterns in data and determines which patterns are most likely to emerge again. With this knowledge, you can adjust resources for your business and prepare for the future. Say goodbye to the days of making decisions blindly and just hoping for the best.
Why Entrepreneurs Need Data Analytics
When used properly, data analytics can be the crystal ball of your business dreams. Simple methods like A/B testing can help you tame your superstitions and break through limitations. The more data you have at your disposal, the clearer the path to success becomes. For the clearest possible vision, you need data mining. Data mining involves the analysis of large quantities of data. With more information, it’s easier to detect patterns for predictive analysis.
According to the University of Maryland, when used in tandem, data mining and predictive analysis allow organizations to fully utilize available information. Adopting such practices will put you in a position to prepare for whatever risks or opportunities the future might hold.
It’s vital to use mobile A/B testing for any changes or new features you’re considering making to your website. As an entrepreneur, you’re well aware of how critical the user experience is for reaching top tier objectives like a customer making a purchase. Even small changes such as the placement or color of a button can affect the user experience. Rather than risk losing out on customers, you should A/B test changes you’re considering for your website prior to their official launch. From there, data analytics can point you in the right direction for current and future decisions.
With the insights data analytics provides, you can take your business to new heights. Across industries, the most high-performing operations prioritize data analytics as a basis for decision-making.
