Website Personalisation
Firstly, let’s get this out the way…
“WHAT IS WEBSITE PERSONALISATION?”
Website personalisation is the process of creating unique and tailored experiences in real-time for individual customers.
A website personalisation strategy is implemented through personalised website content, such as product recommendations and dynamic content. It works by matching a website visitor’s behaviour to that of a carefully determined target audience persona. Specific content is then shown to the audience, depending on the persona that has been identified.
A good website personalisation strategy will involve spending a fair amount of time analysing an organisation’s audiences and building up different personas based on a range of demographics and interests. This is crucial, as it lays the foundation for website personalisation and allows you to deliver a truly personalised website experience.
WEBSITE PERSONALISATION EXAMPLES
Let’s take an example of a furniture website. I might visit the website and look at a few different beds. In the background, the website will be matching up my persona based on my demographics and the pages that I am visiting. The website will have some personalised content blocks across the site, which will serve up different content based on different personas.
So, I might be shown a call to action directing me to look at more beds that I might like. And on another page, I might be shown some other bedroom furniture. I won’t be shown living room or dining room furniture for example, as I haven’t expressed an interest in those areas, so they won’t be part of my persona.
Someone else might come onto the site and look at TV cabinets. They are likely to be shown items such as other TV cabinets, coffee tables and living room storage.
So how does it work out which content to show? Generally, website personalisation involves adding tags to pages. So, product pages with beds, may be tagged up as ‘beds’ as the product tag and ‘bedroom furniture’ as the product category tag. If I’m visiting x amount of pages with the tag ‘beds’, then the personalised content blocks will trigger content that is intended for this tag.
Website personalisation can be as in-depth as you want it to be. For example, you may also choose to build up personas based on product ranges or brands that people are interested in, product materials, colours, price ranges that they are looking at and so on.
THE BENEFITS OF WEBSITE PERSONALISATION
Doesn’t it feel good when somebody just ‘gets’ you? They understand what you like and build a great connection with you. With website personalisation, it’s just like that. Well, similar. A well-personalised website recognises what you like and delivers content that you will love… developing a seamless personalised website experience and a meaningful connection. The result? The ultimate aim is to turn your website visitor into a happy customer who will likely return to your website and tell all their friends about you. A personal touch really can go a long way.
Why serve a broad and generic content experience to all, when you can show each user something more interesting and engaging using website personalisation techniques?
With a personalised website experience, customers build a stronger affinity with brands as they show a level of understanding and listen to them. Leading to a quicker and easier funnel through the purchase journey and repeat visits boosting that customer lifetime value. So it’s more important than ever to ensure that you’re offering personalised user experiences that appeal to your audience.
Personalised website content is a way for brands to use machine learning to tailor their messaging to each individual customer based on user behaviours.
Expert Insight
WEBSITE PERSONALISATION CASE STUDY
A recent Personalisation case study with Brompton Bicycle shows how they are now delivering a personalised and relevant customer experience with Sitecore personalisation. This is across 48 global markets, fuelling growth and boosting customer loyalty.
EMERGING TRENDS IN WEBSITE PERSONALISATION
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so do website personalisation techniques. These days, it’s not just about showing product recommendations based on past browsing history; it’s about offering a completely personalised website experience. Advanced machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence are being integrated into personalisation strategies, making the user experience more dynamic and engaging than ever before.
One trend gaining traction is real-time personalisation, which involves updating the website’s content instantaneously based on the user’s actions, thereby creating a highly engaging and interactive experience. For instance, in eCommerce personalisation, as a user adds items to their basket, real-time algorithms can immediately suggest complementary items, offer discounts, or provide other incentives, all aimed at increasing the basket value.
Moreover, the application of predictive analytics enables a brand to anticipate customer needs even before they explicitly express them. By analysing data trends and user behaviour, predictive models can automatically suggest products or services that a visitor is likely to be interested in. This elevates the personalised website experience from reactive to proactive, making it even more compelling for the user.
Personalised website content is no longer limited to the text or product listings on a site. Even visual elements like banners, videos, and images are becoming customisable based on user preferences. For example, a fashion eCommerce website could change its homepage banner to display summer dresses for a user who has been searching for them, whereas someone else interested in outdoor gear would see banners related to camping equipment.
Omni-channel personalisation is another aspect that brands are focusing on. A seamless personalised website experience is being extended to mobile apps, email campaigns, and even in-store interactions. By keeping track of a customer’s interactions across all these channels, a cohesive and unified user experience can be delivered, thereby amplifying customer loyalty and lifetime value.
WHICH CMS IS BEST FOR WEBSITE PERSONALISATION?
When it comes to website personalisation, the two main contenders are Sitecore and Umbraco.
Sitecore personalisation is built into the CMS. Sitecore CMS works with components, which makes it easier for marketers to produce behaviour-based rules. Persona development is thorough, so audiences can be segmented easily and served relevant content. Sitecore logs user activity upon each visit and, if several predefined rules are triggered during the session, then the personalised website content will be delivered.
Umbraco personalisation isn’t built-in as standard. But it’s possible through add-ons. Apps such as ‘Personalisation Groups’ are designed to work with your Umbraco CMS to serve personalised page content depending on how users interact with your website.
If you’d like to read a little more about this, check out our blog Sitecore vs Umbraco: which platform is right for you.
HOW CODEMINERS CAN PERSONALISE YOUR WEBSITE
We are experts in Sitecore personalisation and Umbraco personalisation.
Through these platforms, we can help you to develop website personalisation ideas and strategy. This will include ways to collect information and data with the ultimate goal of serving your prospective clients and customers with a personalised website experience.
Website personalisation is becoming increasingly important, especially in eCommerce website development, with the goal of driving transactions and revenue. At Codeminers, we have a wealth of experience in eCommerce personalisation. In a nutshell, this is what we can offer…
Using behavioural data bespoke experiences can be created with content-based;
- Landing Pages
- Messages
- Campaigns
- Product Recommendations
Or for a more generalised geographical based experience we can also offer;
- Geo-personalisation
- Multi-lingual personalisation
- Regionalised personalisation
FAQs
Website personalisation involves tailoring the content, design, and user experience of your website to individual visitors based on their behaviour, preferences, and demographics. This approach can significantly enhance user engagement, increase conversion rates, and improve customer satisfaction. For businesses, personalising your website means creating a more relevant and engaging experience for each visitor, which can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. For example, an online retailer might use website personalisation to recommend products that a visitor has shown interest in, based on their browsing history. By doing so, businesses can make their websites more effective tools for achieving organisational goals. Personalisation can also help reduce bounce rates, as visitors are more likely to stay on a website that feels relevant to their interests.
Personalised website content enhances user experience by providing visitors with information and products that are most relevant to them. This approach can make users feel valued and understood, leading to a more satisfying interaction with your site. For instance, a personalised homepage might feature content and products based on a user’s previous interactions, making it easier for them to find what they’re looking for. This tailored experience can reduce the time and effort users need to spend searching for information, thus improving their overall satisfaction. Moreover, personalisation can also include dynamic content adjustments such as personalised greetings or location-based information, further enhancing the user’s connection with your brand. This deeper level of engagement can lead to higher conversion rates and increased customer loyalty.
Some common website personalisation techniques include behavioural targeting, where content is tailored based on users’ past behaviour on the site, and demographic targeting, which customises content based on users’ age, gender, or location. Another technique is predictive personalisation, which uses algorithms to anticipate what content or products a user might be interested in. Personalised recommendations, such as those used by eCommerce sites to suggest products based on previous purchases, are also a popular technique. Additionally, dynamic content adaptation, where the website layout or messaging changes in real-time based on user interactions, can significantly enhance personalisation efforts. These techniques help create a unique experience for each visitor, increasing engagement and conversion rates.
eCommerce personalisation increases sales by providing customers with tailored shopping experiences that meet their individual needs and preferences. Personalisation strategies in eCommerce can include personalised product recommendations, customised email marketing, and dynamic pricing based on user behaviour. For example, a customer who frequently purchases athletic gear might receive personalised recommendations for the latest sports apparel or equipment, encouraging them to make additional purchases. Furthermore, personalised shopping experiences can reduce friction in the buying process, helping customers find what they need more quickly and efficiently. By making the shopping experience more relevant and engaging, businesses can increase conversion rates and foster customer loyalty.
Codeminers
offers comprehensive solutions for implementing website personalisation tailored to your business needs. Our team of experts will work with you to understand your target audience and business goals, and then develop a personalised strategy to enhance your website’s user experience. We use advanced data analytics to gather insights about your customers, enabling us to create tailored content and recommendations that resonate with your audience. Whether you need assistance with behavioural targeting, dynamic content adaptation, or personalised marketing campaigns, we have the expertise to deliver effective solutions. Our approach ensures that your website not only attracts more visitors but also converts them into loyal customers.
Implementing website personalisation can present challenges such as data privacy concerns, technical complexities, and resource constraints. Data privacy is a critical issue, as personalisation relies on collecting and analysing user data. Businesses must ensure compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR to maintain user trust. Technically, integrating personalisation tools with existing systems can be complex, requiring specialised skills and expertise. Additionally, personalisation efforts can demand significant resources in terms of time and budget. Addressing these challenges involves adopting a strategic approach, prioritising transparency in data usage, and selecting scalable and user-friendly personalisation tools. Partnering with experienced vendors like [Company Name] can also help overcome these hurdles by providing expert guidance and support throughout the implementation process.
