The list of “Recently Viewed” appears far right, outside of the main page and (conveniently!) right next to the shopping basket. It’s a rolling list of 5 of the most recently visited items. The records persist beyond the session such that a returning visitor is greeted with stuff they were looking within last 7 days.

For visitors the benefits are:

1) Effortless route back to products that picqued there interest

2) Easy comparison between those items

3) Automatic – no need to click to remember something

4) Reminder of great stuff they’ve seen before – ideal for split/ unfinished shopping sessions

For affiliates the anticipated benefit is higher conversions. Why?

1) Visitors have a running visual prompt of gifts that have picqued their interest

2) Split sessions restart with a ready reminder of what visitors were looking at previously

3) Their own ‘hot list’ is right next to the shopping basket, tempting additional spend

It was only launched today, so no stats to prove as yet, but this is where we are coming from with this change. Will add data when available.

Steve

Have a look yourself at the new homepage and feel free to comment here. If you don’t know/ remember what the old homepage looks like, it’s here: old home page.

The old homepage was a recent modest redesign itself. The best-selling products box was added to replace a range advert and offers column. These changes ever-so slightly increased bounce (which was very low) and had no discernible impact upon engagement or conversion. Hence the more fundamental rethink.

Our intention with totally new design is to improve engagement. We never had a problem with bounce rate on the homepage. But a visitor clicking something (anything!) on the page (in confusion, desperation or otherwise) has little value. It doesn’t mean they “buy in” and we don’t know anymore about them as a result. Here we are trying to channel them into revealling more about there gift search and as a result we will be able to better segment the products and messages to them. That’s the concept, anyway!

It goes without saying that affiliates will reap the benefits of our return to obsessive self-improvement.

Thanks,

Steve

First came a new home page, launched last week. A lot of space has been given over to a new best-sellers box. The results are very positive. But, more changes are in the pipeline. We’re putting one major change live at a time to enable objective comparison of each change.

Today, we’re putting the finishing touches on a new layout and navigation for the category pages. We’re testing it in the Girlfriend/ Wife section first. The objective is to make it easier for people to shop how they want to and to access “ideas”, instead of just lists of products. Our research is telling us the majority of people see themselves as “idea hunters” rather than “shoppers” when they first visit. And, it’s our job to convert them into buyers buy selling them great ideas!

We’ll keep you posted on progress. Meanwhile don’t forget to take advantage of the Lolita Glasses incentive currently running.