At the time of this writing, Google stated that Optimize will be sunset by late September 2023.

What is Google Optimize?

Google Optimize is an online split-testing tool from Google that plugs into your Shopify store and enables you to experiment with different ways of delivering your content. It facilitates three types of testing -- A/B testing, multivariate testing, and redirect tests. Optimize is typically used for conversion rate optimization (CRO).

Does Replo work on top of Google Optimize?

Absolutely, Replo works with almost all frontend A/B testing frameworks including Google Optimize. Here's a quick video on how to integrate Replo with Google Optimize.

How do I install Google Optimize in my Replo project?

Because Replo auto-magically imports all the scripts you currently use on your Shopify store, Replo will automatically import Google Optimize if you already have it installed. If you don't have Google Optimize installed on your Shopify store, please take a look at the tutorial here to get started.

Troubleshooting

My changes are not showing up on my Replo page

Make sure that Google Optimize is correctly installed on your Shopify Store. Follow the instructions here to make the correct changes to your Shopify theme. Google Optimize also has a helpful debugger tool within each experiment to help make sure that their scripts are correctly installed. If you need help, don't hesitate to reach out to our team.

If everything is correctly installed and you are still not seeing your changes, reach out to us at support@replo.app

There is a flicker between when the page loads and when the variant is applied

This is a well-known problem in Google Optimize. Page flicker occurs when a web page briefly appears with the browser's default styles before loading an external CSS stylesheet which re-renders it causing the restyled elements to momentarily 'jump' on the page. Conveniently, Google Optimize has a solution for this. 

What tool should I use now that Google Optimize is being sunset?

How to Choose the Right A/B Testing Tool for Your Store

Choosing the right tool is like choosing the right ice cream flavor. It depends on your taste (or in this case, your needs and comfort level).

Ask yourself, do you need a simple tool or an advanced one? Are you comfortable with technology or do you prefer something easy to use? How much are you willing to spend?

  1. Optimizely: Optimizely is like your all-knowing guide. It's a bit more advanced and has more features than Google Optimize. It can help you run more complex tests if you're ready for them.

  2. VWO (Visual Website Optimizer): VWO is like your friendly helper. It offers heatmaps, which show you where people are clicking on your site, along with the ability to run A/B tests.

  3. Shoplift: Shoplift is the newest tool in this list and is a Shopify app. This means that the split-testing is integrating directly into your themes from the jump, without any additional setup on your part.

  4. Intelligems: A popular tool for A/B testing in the Shopify ecosystem. Allows price-testing as well. See Intelligems for more details

These are just a few tools. There are many more out there! Remember, the best tool is the one that suits your needs, budget, and feels comfortable to use.