Template Tests - Getting Started

Get started with running A/B tests on your Shopify templates with ABConvert

What Are Template Tests?

Template Tests allow you to compare the performance of different page templates within your Shopify store. This is particularly useful for testing variations of product pages, landing pages, or other key templates to determine which design or layout performs better.

Template Tests operate by leveraging alternate templates in Shopify and using scripts to manage their display. The process involves:

1. Assigning different templates to different types of pages (home page / collection page/ product page).

2. Redirecting visitors to these templates based on test settings.

3. Tracking performance metrics through analytics tools.

This method enables you to test different designs without disrupting your live theme, making it a flexible and powerful tool for optimization.

When Should I Choose Template Tests?

1. Product Page Design Optimization: Template Tests are ideal for testing variations of product page layouts, such as different descriptions, image placements, or call-to-action buttons. This helps identify which design drives better engagement and conversions.

2. Landing Page Performance Testing: Use Template Tests to experiment with alternate landing page designs and layouts to determine which one leads to higher conversion rates. This is especially useful for testing promotional campaigns or seasonal offers.

3. Testing Multiple Templates Without URL Changes: If you want to test different designs while keeping the same URL structure (e.g., no redirects), Template Tests are the perfect choice. They allow you to dynamically render different templates through Shopify’s ?view=template-suffix system, ensuring a seamless user experience without altering page URLs

For more Template Test use cases, check out this document:

🧩Template Test Use Cases

How Template Tests Work

1. Set Up Templates: Create or select alternate templates for the pages you want to test (e.g., product pages, collection pages, or home pages). These templates can include variations in layout, content placement, or design elements.

2. Assign Templates to Variants: Assign the default template to the original group and the alternate template to the variant (test group). This ensures customers are split between the two experiences.

   1. When using ABConvert to run template tests on product pages, users often encounter confusion due to Shopify's limitation: a single product can only be assigned to one template at a time. The short answer is: the variant template in your test does not need to be assigned to the same product as the original template. It can be any published template within your theme.

3. Preview and Test: Use the preview feature to ensure that both templates display correctly and align with your store's branding.

4. Launch the Test: Start the test by splitting traffic between the control group (default template) and the test group (alternate template). Customers are automatically directed to one of the two templates during their visit.

5. Monitor Analytics: Track key performance metrics such as bounce rate, time spent on page, conversion rate, and average order value (AOV) for each template. Analytics tools will help you compare how each template performs.

6. Apply the Winner Template: If one template outperforms the other, you can make it the default for your store or continue testing further variations to optimize performance. Note that you need to manually apply the winner template to your store due to Shopify restrictions.

Customer Experience Example

Here’s an example of how a Template Test might look from a customer’s perspective:

• Original Experience: A customer visits a product page assigned to the default template. This template features standard product descriptions and layout elements.

• Test Experience: Another customer visits the same product page but is redirected to a variant template. This variant might include enhanced visuals or a different layout.

Conclusion

Template Tests provide a seamless way to optimize your Shopify store by comparing different designs and layouts. As customers interact with these pages, ABConvert tracks key metrics like conversion rates, time spent on pages, and add-to-cart actions. This data helps you identify which template resonates better with their audience and drives improved outcomes.

For further assistance or questions, reach out via [e-mail] or use the in-app support widget.