High-contrast homepage hero image: +180% CTA clicks for Hivelocity
Commentary byLiftArchiveOur analysis, not theirsSwitching to a high-contrast hero image on Hivelocity's homepage lifted clicks on the call to action by 180%.
Cro Metrics ran this A/B test for Hivelocity, a dedicated server and cloud hosting provider, and it was published as a Convert case study.
The aim was to make the value proposition easier to read.
- Homepage CTA clicks: +180% against the control.
- This is a click metric. The source does not say how it affected sign-ups, orders or revenue.
- Sample size, duration and confidence were not shared.
The change
The hero image changes to high contrast so the value proposition reads clearly.
Simplified mockup drawn by LiftArchive from the shared screenshots.
Control
The homepage hero used an image that made the value proposition text hard to read.
Variant
A high-contrast hero image made the value proposition text stand out and easier to read.
Why it likely won
Our reading of the result, not the practitioner's claim.
- If visitors can't read the headline, they don't know what is on offer. Clear text gives them a reason to click.
- Higher contrast probably made the CTA itself more visible too.
- Hosting buyers scan quickly. A readable value proposition helps them decide fast if they are in the right place.
Caveats: The metric is CTA clicks, not sign-ups or revenue. No sample size, duration or significance was shared.
Who ran it
Cro Metrics ran this test for dedicated server and cloud hosting provider and published the results (Convert case study). The numbers are theirs; the summary and commentary on this page are ours.
Read the original case study on Cro Metrics →
How to run this test on your site
- Hypothesis
- If we use a high-contrast hero image behind our homepage headline, then more visitors will click the main CTA because they can read the value proposition at a glance.
- Primary metric
- Homepage hero CTA click-through rate
- Guardrails
- Sign-ups or orders per homepage visitor
- Bounce rate
- Page load time
- Who should test it
- SaaS sites whose hero text sits on a busy photo or low-contrast background. Check readability first: if the headline already reads clearly, the gain is likely to be small.
Questions
Does text contrast in a hero section affect conversions?
It can. In this test, making the value proposition easier to read came with 180% more CTA clicks, though later funnel effects were not reported.
How do I check if my hero text is readable?
Run your text and background colours through a contrast checker and view the page on a phone in daylight. Text over busy photos often fails both.