[Erik Mulder]

Can we use more actual test results and less speculations?

I think so

The copy doctor members forum as a split-test section where people can share their scientifically tested copywriting results.

I think it's a great way to build your arsenal of "things to test", so you have like an instant roadmap to testing the right materials. Nothing works everywhere, which is why it's so cool to know what techniques MIGHT work, and then test those to find out.

Cause frankly, I've already tested a lot of things that I won't ever be testing again. Like wide tables and smaller margins. Those simply never seem to work.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Are you guys (esp you Mike, it's your board after all!) in favor of this kind of thing? I think it'd strip the board of a lot of speculation and put people in a frame of mind of scientific advertising instead of guesswork.

I think this has been what Peter and a few others have been steering at as well.

What's your take?

[Michel Fortin]

Yes and no. A forum for "success stories" perhaps, with people sharing test results, may be more in line. It'd also be great to share actual techniques that work, specific approaches and their results, as well as test results.

I do believe we can share split-test results in a separate forum. But I wouldn't make it just for test results. I mean, how many people test and track? Not many. How many split-test results are out there? We only scratched the surface. And, how many results are good one day but change another? While human behavior will never change, the Internet and markets are dynamic to a certain extent. Some test results do change.

Plus...

Having a success stories forum, which provides results to a degree, also provides the more weight to the subjective side of selling and copywriting. My opinion is this: Speculation is not entirely based on conjecture. Sometimes, it's based on experience, other results (not test-related), sales skills and, above all, passion. The latter is something you really cannot test but can talk about.