Theme Tests - Getting Started

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

What Are Theme Tests?

Theme tests allow you to evaluate different Shopify themes to optimize your store's performance and user experience. By comparing themes, you can determine which design elements and layouts work best for your customers, ultimately improving conversion rates.

When Should I Choose Theme Tests?

Consider using theme tests when:

• You want to test a new theme's compatibility and impact on existing metrics.

• You're interested in observing user behavior with different layouts.

• You need to ensure a theme performs well across various devices.

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

🎨Theme Test Use Cases

How Theme Tests Work

Theme tests need to be ran independently from all other tests due to product restrictions. You need to end or pause all other A/B tests on ABConvert to run theme tests since the test scripts for the other tests only exist in the live theme. This restriction will ensure test accuracy.

1. Prepare Themes: Ensure the themes you want to test are added to your Shopify theme library. These could include your current live theme and one or more alternate themes with different designs or layouts.

2. Select Themes for Testing: In the theme test setup, choose your original theme (the current live theme) and your variant theme.

3. Preview Themes: Use the preview feature to ensure each theme is functioning correctly, displays as intended, and aligns with your store’s branding.

4. Launch the Test: Start the test and customers will be randomly assigned to experience one of the selected themes during their visit. You can set the traffic split percentage in the test settings.

5. Monitor Analytics: Track key performance metrics such as click-through rate, conversion rates, and average order value (AOV) for each theme.

6. Implement Changes: If a test theme performs better than your current live theme, you can make it your new default theme or continue testing additional variations for further optimization.

Customer Experience Example

• Original Experience: A customer visits the online store and sees the default theme, which features a classic layout with a traditional navigation bar and standard product grid.

• Test Experience: Another customer visits the same store but is redirected to a test theme via a preview link. This variant theme might include a modern, minimalist design with enhanced visuals, such as larger product images and an innovative navigation menu.

Conclusion

Theme tests are essential for optimizing your Shopify store's appearance and functionality. By comparing different themes, you can identify the most effective design for your customers, leading to improved conversion and engagement. Regularly conduct these tests before making major changes to ensure your store remains appealing.

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