Setting Profitable Prices: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pricing Strategy--Without Hiring a Consultant, + Website

Chapter 12

Using Google to Test Prices for Free (or Almost Free)

In-a-Rush Tip

Don’t skip this critical chapter!

However, if you already have a Google AdWords account, you can skip steps 1–3 under “A/B Split Testing with Google AdWords.”

Two Methods for Almost-Free Testing!

You may not have to spend a cent to test prices. For this you can thank Google, a company that has done many wonderful things particularly for small businesses, but that now strides industries like Godzilla, squashing a few thousand people here and there as it passes by. If I was creating a slang dictionary, I’d list Google first under “love-hate relationship.”

Google has two different ways you can test prices:

1. A/B split testing (Note: You can test more than two choices, so A/B split testing can actually be A/B/C or A/B/C/D split testing.)

2. Google Optimizer (This is a form of multivariate testing, which used to require buying an expensive software package, or an even more expensive testing service. Now, thanks to Google, it is free to you.)

The advantage of A/B split testing is that it is easiest to set up; you won’t need help from a web designer.

The disadvantage of A/B split testing—and why you would instead use Google Optimizer—is that A/B split testing can only test one thing (e.g., prices or headlines) at a time. With Google Optimizer, you can test multiple items at the same time. But you might ...