Homepage hero banner test, 4 versions: +15.52% conversion rate
Test run byDave DiederenSyntra Labs
Commentary byLiftArchiveOur analysis, not theirsThe best of four homepage hero banners lifted conversion rate by 15.52% and revenue per visitor by 13.98%. Dave Diederen ran this test for a Shopify brand. The versions changed where social proof sat, whether trust badges showed, added benefits like free delivery and a guarantee, and reworked the button layout.
- Conversion rate went from 1.37% to 1.59% for the best banner (+15.52%). The range shown was -8% to +44%, so the win is not certain.
- Revenue per visitor went from $1.43 to $1.63 (+13.98%), estimated at +$70,405 per month.
- Profit per visitor went from $1.02 to $1.17 (+14.29%), estimated at +$51,455 per month.
- A second banner came close at 1.54% conversion and $1.62 per visitor.
- One banner lost: 1.31% conversion and $1.33 per visitor, below the original.
The change
Illustrative: banners varied social proof, trust badges, benefits and button hierarchy.
Simplified mockup drawn by LiftArchive from the shared screenshots.
Control
The store's existing homepage hero banner. Its exact layout was not shown.
Variant
Three new hero banners were tested against it. They differed in social proof position (top or bottom), trust badges (shown or not), added delivery and guarantee benefits, and button hierarchy. Which mix the winner used was not shared.
Why it likely won
Our reading of the result, not the practitioner's claim.
- the hero is the first thing most visitors see, so even small clarity gains reach a lot of people.
- free delivery and a guarantee answer common doubts before a shopper starts browsing.
- the losing version shows that adding trust elements is not a sure win, and layout matters as much as content.
Caveats: The ranges cross zero, so the lift may not hold. Sample size and test length were not shared, and we do not know which design choices the winning banner used.
Who ran it
Dave Diederen (@DaveDiederen) shared this test on X. The numbers and screenshots are theirs.
View the original post on X
How to run this test on your store
- Hypothesis
- If we add delivery and guarantee benefits and reorder social proof and the button in our homepage hero, then more visitors will buy because their main doubts are answered at first glance.
- Primary metric
- Revenue per visitor
- Guardrails
- Conversion rate
- Profit per visitor
- Homepage bounce rate
- Who should test it
- Stores where a large share of traffic lands on the homepage. Testing four versions at once needs a lot of traffic; smaller stores should test one change at a time.
Questions
What should a homepage hero banner include?
This test tried social proof, trust badges, delivery and guarantee benefits, and a clearer button. The best combination lifted conversion rate by 15.52%.
Should social proof go at the top or bottom of the hero?
Both positions were tested, but which one won was not shared. Test it on your own store.
Can adding trust elements to the hero hurt?
Yes. One of the three new banners converted worse than the original, at 1.31% against 1.37%.
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