What is Hero Section Layout Test?

The Hero Section Layout Test is a marketing growth tactic that tests and refines the first, and often the most influential, part of a website that a user sees when they visit - the hero section.

This test was born out of the idea of making websites perform better. It’s an aspect of conversion rate optimization (CRO), a field that focuses on improving different elements of a website in order to draw users to take action.

This tactic is highly relevant, especially when the goal is to boost traffic, because the hero section of a website is what sets the tone for a visitor's experience. The layout of this section can determine whether users will stay on your site (convert) or leave (bounce). Thus, A/B testing the hero section layout can have a considerable impact, defining if visitors find your website attractive and user-friendly enough to explore further.

Examples of Hero Section Layout Test

1. E-commerce Store: An online store could test different images or messages on its hero section. They may find, for example, that higher-quality images or personalized offers make potential customers more likely to look at more products and make a purchase.

2. B2B Software Company: A software vendor might test whether a hero section with a clear explanation of their software's features drives more demo requests than a hero section with customer testimonials.

3. Restaurant Website: A restaurant could test a hero section featuring high-resolution images of their food, competed with one that emphasizes a romantic ambiance, to see which leads to more reservations.

4. Nonprofit Organization: A nonprofit could test different hero sections featuring different message expressions or donation asks. For example, they may find that an emotional appeal drives more donations than a rational, statistics-based one.

5. Personal Blog: A blogger might test different hero section layouts - one highlighting their latest post, versus one showcasing their biography - to evaluate which layout leads to more site engagement and subscriptions.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Hero Section Layout Test

• Above The Fold Content: This refers to the section of a web page that's visible without scrolling. Like hero sections, the quality and appeal of this content can drastically affect user engagement.

• Click-Through Rate (CTR) Testing: This is a method of testing marketing strategies, website design elements, or ad placements to see which one leads to a higher percentage of clicks.

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): This refers to methods used to increase the percentage of website visitors who complete a website's desired goal (a conversion) out of the total website visitors.

• User Experience (UX) Testing: This relates to testing different elements of a digital product (like a website or app) to make it easier and more pleasant for users to navigate and interact with.

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