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Google’s new Conversion Probability metric

Author's avatar By Dave Chaffey 23 Apr, 2018
Essential Essential topic

Chart of the Day: Use Machine Learning AI to understand the propensity of your site visitors to convert

I'm reviewing a different type of Chart today since while reviewing Google's Demo Account while working on some new learning materials for our members I noticed the intriguing new Conversion Probability feature Beta.

Here's what it shows for the one hundred thousand odd sessions in the Demo account: 

You can see that it breaks down these sessions into likelihood to convert, so if we can learn more about what turns the high-converting visitors onto our products, we have more chance of finding and converting more visits in future.

As we explain in our AI and machine learning guide, for us, the most exciting marketing application of artificial intelligence is using machine learning to learn from historic interactions with our audiences see what influences their propensity to convert. Using this insight we can tailor our communications to be more relevant.

Here, Google analyses historic visits of sites which have at least 1,000 e-commerce transactions to see which of all the variables available in analytics like visitor source, content consumed and path determine propensity to purchase.  You can use the conversion probability metrics to segment in Google Analytics so that if you choose a higher probability segment such as 21-50 or 51-100, you can assess :

  • Which channels, keywords, and campaigns deliver highly engaged users.
  • Which conversion paths are most effective, and where along the path can you deliver the most effective advertising.
  • Create remarketing audiences based on your users who are more likely to convert and publishing those audiences to your various marketing platforms like AdWords and DoubleClick Bid Manager.
  • Publish these audiences to Optimize so that you can understand exactly which refinements to your site content deliver the highest likelihood of conversion.

Hopefully, this shows the potential power of this exciting technique to retailers and other ecommerce businesses that have Ecomm transactions set up in Google Analytics.

Author's avatar

By Dave Chaffey

Digital strategist Dr Dave Chaffey is co-founder and Content Director of online marketing training platform and publisher Smart Insights. 'Dr Dave' is known for his strategic, but practical, data-driven advice. He has trained and consulted with many business of all sizes in most sectors. These include large international B2B and B2C brands including 3M, BP, Barclaycard, Dell, Confused.com, HSBC, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, M&G Investment, Rentokil Initial, O2, Royal Canin (Mars Group) plus many smaller businesses. Dave is editor of the templates, guides and courses in our digital marketing resource library used by our Business members to plan, manage and optimize their marketing. Free members can access our free sample templates here. Dave is also keynote speaker, trainer and consultant who is author of 5 bestselling books on digital marketing including Digital Marketing Excellence and Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. In 2004 he was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as one of 50 marketing ‘gurus’ worldwide who have helped shape the future of marketing. My personal site, DaveChaffey.com, lists my latest Digital marketing and E-commerce books and support materials including a digital marketing glossary. Please connect on LinkedIn to receive updates or ask me a question.

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