A clear look at client-side testing
Written by Neil Webley · Last updated
FreeCROTool uses a small tag on your website to check for active tests, show each visitor the correct page version and record the results in Google Analytics.
The entire process happens automatically in the background while visitors continue using your website as normal.
From the first page load to reporting, FreeCROTool handles the process in the background.
Your website begins loading normally. The FreeCROTool tag is installed alongside your existing Google Analytics setup.
The tag is small and works quietly in the background. Visitors do not need to install anything or visit a separate page.
The page can be hidden for up to half a second while FreeCROTool loads and checks for any experiments that apply to the visitor.
This prevents the original page content from briefly appearing before the test version is applied, avoiding the distracting flicker sometimes seen with client-side testing.
If no test loads before the safety timeout, the original page is shown automatically.
If the visitor is included in a test, FreeCROTool applies the version they have been assigned.
Some visitors may see the original Version A, while others see Version B with changes such as a different heading, call-to-action, image, banner or page content.
The visitor then keeps the appropriate test experience as they continue through the website, subject to the project’s consent and visitor-assignment settings.
Once the page is shown, the visitor can browse the website exactly as they normally would.
FreeCROTool can record important actions through Google Analytics, including button clicks, link clicks, form submissions, visits to important pages, checkout activity and completed purchases.
Test participation and conversion activity are sent to Google Analytics using events that include the experiment and variation information.
This means the underlying test data remains available in the website owner’s own Google Analytics property.
FreeCROTool reads the relevant Google Analytics data each day and turns it into clear experiment reports, making it easier to compare Version A and Version B.
Google Analytics events are sent as activity happens. FreeCROTool reports are refreshed from the available Google Analytics 4 (GA4) data on a daily basis.
If a test cannot be loaded quickly enough, the original page is revealed automatically.
Tags are hosted on a global CDN and cached to reduce loading time.
Test events and conversions are recorded in your own Google Analytics property.
FreeCROTool applies test changes in the visitor’s browser without replacing the original website page.
FreeCROTool should be initialised in line with the website’s consent configuration.
Where Google Analytics or test measurement requires consent, the testing process can wait until the appropriate permission has been provided. FreeCROTool can help customers configure this for common consent-management platforms.
Consent requirements and configurations vary. FreeCROTool can be set up to respect the choices visitors make through your website’s consent process.
Create visual A/B tests, measure the results in Google Analytics and start with up to 10,000 tag impressions per month for free.
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