10 Effective A/B Testing Examples

Mashkoor Alam
ByMashkoor Alam

Updated:

6 mins read

Updated:

6 mins read

Summarize with AI

Ever clicked on a button just because it stood out? Or opened an email because the subject line felt too good to ignore? Chances are that didn’t happen by accident. Behind most high performing websites, apps, and campaigns lies A/B testing also known as split testing is like running a mini experiment. You take two versions of something like two subject lines, two landing pages, or two CTAs to see which one your audience prefers. You send version A to one group and version B to another, then by testing both versions with real users and analyzing results, you can make confident decisions based on facts, not guesses.

In this blog, we'll cover examples from brands in different industries to illustrate how brands have approached A/B testing in order to achieve great success. Studying these helps you see how small experiments can lead to meaningful improvements

1. Mailmodo

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A SaaS company’s marketing team was struggling with low response rates on their customer feedback surveys. The problem? Their emails contained a link that redirected users to an external survey page and most recipients simply didn’t bother clicking through. The team needed a more engaging, frictionless way to collect responses.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): A standard email with a “Click Here to Take Our Survey” button linking to a separate survey page.

  • Version B (Variant): An interactive AMP email built with Mailmodo, allowing users to complete the entire survey right inside their inbox — no extra clicks or loading pages.

Outcome

The interactive email Version B achieved a 257% increase in survey completions compared to the static version. The result proved how eliminating friction and enhancing interactivity can dramatically improve user engagement and data quality.

2. Zalora – Building trust, boosting checkouts

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Zalora's retailer noticed that even with heavy web traffic, too many shoppers were leaving before checking out. Their team suspected that customers weren't confident enough in the value and security of buying, especially around topics like returns and delivery.​

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Standard layout with “Free Delivery” and “Free Returns” info buried in small print.

  • Version B (Variant): Prominent trust badges and banners highlighting “Free Delivery” and “Free Returns” placed near the “Add to Cart” button.

Outcome

The trust-focused version increased checkout rates by 12.3%, proving that addressing customer anxieties at the point of purchase builds confidence and drives conversions.

3. Amazon – The color that sold millions

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Amazon, one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms, constantly experiments to improve user experience and boost sales. Even small design changes can have a massive impact due to its enormous customer base. One such test focused on the “Add to Cart” button, a critical element in driving conversions.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Yellow button (the original).

  • Version B (Variant): Bright orange button to stand out more on white backgrounds.

Outcome

The orange button led to a 1% increase in clicks, a seemingly small lift that translated into millions in extra revenue due to Amazon’s massive user base.

4. Google – The 41 shades of blue

1730264978912.jpg Google’s design team is known for its attention to detail, constantly refining the user interface to maximize engagement. Even the smallest visual elements can influence user behavior, which is why Google conducted a meticulous experiment on the color of ad links.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Original blue tone used across interfaces.

  • Version B (Variants): 41 slightly different blue shades tested to see which encouraged more clicks.

Outcome

The winning blue shade increased engagement so much it generated $200 million more revenue per year, showing how even subtle design details can impact performance.

5. Bannersnack – The bigger, better CTA

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Bannersnack, a design tool platform, wanted to increase sign-ups on their landing page but noticed very low conversion rates. Using heatmaps, they discovered that users were overlooking the CTA button entirely, making it clear that visibility was a major issue.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Small, low-contrast “Sign Up” button blending into the background.

  • Version B (Variant): Larger, brightly colored CTA button with more contrast for better visibility.

Outcome

The new CTA design led to a 25% increase in sign-ups, showing how visual prominence directly influences conversions.

6. Grene – Redesigning the mini cart

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Polish retailer Grene identified that many customers dropped off after adding items to their mini-cart. Investigation revealed that users struggled to find totals and checkout buttons, creating friction in the purchase process

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Cluttered mini-cart with small “Go to Cart” button and hidden item totals.

  • Version B (Variant): Redesigned mini-cart featuring a large top CTA, clear item totals, and easily visible “Remove” options.

Outcome

The improved mini-cart doubled purchase quantities and raised overall conversion rates, providing clarity and usability to drive more completed purchases.

7. Harry’s – Turning confusion into action

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Harry’s, a grooming products brand, had a homepage that attracted good traffic but generated low sign-ups. The team suspected that their vague CTA “Learn More” was leaving users unsure of what action to take next.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): “Learn More” CTA without clear next steps.

  • Version B (Variant): Action focused CTA reading “Start Your Free Trial” to guide user intent.

Outcome

Conversions rose significantly, showing that clear and direct CTAs outperform vague ones by reducing uncertainty.

8. Miller & Smith – Diagnosing before testing

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Real estate developer Miller & Smith faced low engagement despite having an attractive site. They weren’t sure where users were struggling, which made it difficult to prioritize improvements.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Original layout with unclear navigation labels and inconsistent design flow.

  • Version B (Variant): Revised layout and navigation based on heatmap insights to guide users better.

Outcome

Engagement increased, bounce rates dropped, and conversions improved highlighting that data backed UX adjustments amplify testing success.

9. Airbnb – The power of high-quality images

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Airbnb noticed that many property listings were getting high impressions but few bookings. Their team suspected that low quality photos were discouraging users from finalizing reservations.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Listings with user-uploaded, low-quality photos.

  • Version B (Variant): Listings with professionally shot, high-resolution photos provided by Airbnb’s photography program.

Outcome

The listings with professional photos received significantly higher booking rates — in some cases, up to 2x more reservations. This experiment showed that visual quality and trust signals have a direct impact on user decisions and conversions.

10. Ubisoft – Copy that connects

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Ubisoft aimed to increase sign-ups for their gaming newsletters but noticed that their lead forms felt generic and unengaging. Users weren’t connecting with the content, reducing overall conversions.

Strategy

  • Version A (Control): Generic headlines like “Sign up for updates.”

  • Version B (Variant): Emotionally engaging copy emphasizing exclusivity and community: “Join the Community. Get Early Access to Game Drops.”

Outcome

Lead sign-ups increased by 12%, demonstrating that emotionally resonant language can create stronger user connection and drive action.

Conclusion

As the examples show, A/B testing isn't just about finding a "winner"; it’s a culture of continuous improvement. From refining a CTA button's color to simplifying a complex checkout form, every test provides valuable insights into user behavior. This knowledge empowers businesses to make informed decisions that reduce friction, enhance the customer experience, and increase ROI over time.

The case studies presented demonstrate the power of systematic experimentation across various business functions. Whether you're optimizing an email subject line with Mailmodo or validating a website redesign, the process is the same: research, hypothesize, test, and iterate. By adopting an "Always Be Testing" mindset, you can build a more resilient and responsive strategy, ensuring that every change you make is a deliberate step toward success.

FAQs

A successful A/B testing campaign requires clear objectives and scope, well prepared test cases with the right tools and environment, and a skilled team with effective defect tracking and reporting. Continuous monitoring and improvement ensure thorough coverage and quality.

Common types of A/B testing include: Functional - Verifying features work as intended. Performance - Assessing speed and stability. Security - Ensuring protection against threats. Usability - Evaluating user experience. Regression - Confirming fixes don’t break existing functionality. Integration - Checking that different components work seamlessly together.

A/B Testing success is measured using metrics like defect detection rate, test coverage, pass/fail ratio, and the severity of issues found, showing overall product quality and readiness.

Design and execute tests, report defects, analyze results, and provide feedback for product improvement.

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Table of contents

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1. Mailmodo
2. Zalora – Building trust, boosting checkouts
3. Amazon – The color that sold millions
4. Google – The 41 shades of blue
5. Bannersnack – The bigger, better CTA
6. Grene – Redesigning the mini cart
7. **Harry’s – Turning confusion into action**
8. Miller & Smith – Diagnosing before testing
9. Airbnb – The power of high-quality images
10. Ubisoft – Copy that connects
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