How to test unconditional free shipping?

[Mjstout]

Hi everyone,

I am considering a switch to offering unconditional free shipping. By this I mean no minimums or contingencies. Before I do this I would like to be able to test the concept for a period of time, or for a section of my audience before fully committing. The issue is it will take a lot of time and $$$ to convert the website to market the free shipping properly. I have thought about using a promo code but I am not sure that will give a proper sample due to people getting confused. Has anyone seen how to test this concept?

Thanks!

[EGOL]

Consider offering it on a random day as a surprise for your visitors.  Then see if the size of the shopping cart increases and the conversion rate increases.

This allows you to do it without long-term commitment and test how it hits your visitors mentally.  This offers it to everyone equally and might avoid your best customer writing to you asking... WHY DIDN"T I GET FREE SHIPPING?!

[vmialik]

Also if you would like to run it for more than one day. You can perform A/B Testing if this is something you are comfortable doing. Depending on your website or platform there are free plugins or paid services that will allow you to do it in a randomized fashion. If you are looking for a larger sample with which to make your decision.

Hope this helps

[Mjstout]

Thanks. That was what I was thinking. The harder part is getting an accurate sample. I have a flat rate shipping rate posted everywhere on my website. So if I just drop in a message on the home/landing page it may be confusing. And if I just add it into the shopping cart then it will not be accurate because I did not market it.

So the only option I can think of is to market a promo code on the website and through PPC.But I am not sure if that will be an accurate sample due to it essentially looking like a promotion, instead of an ongoing benefit of the company.

[vmialik]

Well first see if the promo works if it does and numbers make sense, you can apply the unconditional free shipping for a while if the behavioral economics of peoples choices are similar in a sense that they treat the promo and actual shipping change the same way, you can leave unconditional. shipping as is, if not revert back to the initial pricing.

3 Stage:

1. Promo test

2. Change shipping rate on the website, and try unconditional for a while

3. Keep or revert back

Hope this helps