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UX experiments / Friction

Friction · A/B test · 100% of traffic

Should SimCity keep the $20-off banner on its pre-order page?

EA · Maxis · SimCity · 2013

Pre-order page with a banner offering $20 off a future purchase. Keep the banner?

Version A: With promo banner
AWith promo banner
Version B: No promo
BNo promo

Make your call. Which version won, and why? Decide before you open the result. Guessing first is what trains your judgment.

Made your call? See the result

No promo: 43.4% more purchases.

What happened

The big banner pushed the call-to-action further down the page. Fans who arrived had already decided to buy.

Why it worked

A discount for intent that already exists adds noise and moves the button out of reach.

The takeaway

Promotions aren't free. Measure what they push out of view.

Source

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