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How to set cost for profit metric calculation in each type of tests

Learn how to control profit metrics across different ABConvert tests

Kelly at ABConvert avatar
Written by Kelly at ABConvert
Updated over 3 weeks ago

This guide shows you how to set cost, shipping, and profit inputs so your profit metrics are accurate.

When to use this

Use this guide when you want to:

  • Compare profit instead of revenue between test groups

  • Adjust shipping or product cost assumptions after a test starts

  • Run tests where Shopify COGs are missing or not applicable

  • Apply different cost structures across test groups

Price test

You will need to know which price test method you are using before reading the following sections.

Duplicate product method

The product cost in price tests is pulled automatically from Shopify COGs, but you can still update it afterwards by the following steps:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Scroll down to Breakdown table

  3. Click Add cost

  4. In the popup modal, enter:

    1. Ad spend (split evenly across test groups)

    2. Shipping cost per order

    3. Product cost for each tested product

click add cost button in breakdown table in analytics page
add your cost in the pop-up modal

Duplicate variant method

Storewide data

If you are checking the analytics in Storewide data (the third dropdown next to All visitors), you can follow these steps:

  1. Click Set cost (next to Get preview url)

  2. Choose one option in Set shipping cost and profit margin popup:

    1. Set same shipping cost and profit for each group

    2. Set different shipping cost and profit for each group

  3. Enter:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  4. Click Apply

in storewide data type in analytics page, click set cost button and enter your cost

Product view data

If you are checking the analytics in Product view data (the third dropdown next to All visitors), you can follow these steps:

  1. Scroll down to Breakdown table

  2. Click Add cost

  3. In the popup modal, enter:

    1. Ad spend (split evenly across test groups)

    2. Shipping cost per order

    3. Product cost for each tested product

click add cost button in breakdown table in analytics page
add your cost in the pop-up modal

Cart transform method

Product cost in the cart transform method IS NOT synced automatically from Shopify COGS, but you can update it manually by following these steps:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Switch the analytics to Product view data (the third dropdown next to All visitors)

  3. Scroll down to Breakdown table

  4. Click Add cost

  5. In the popup modal, enter:

    1. Ad spend (split evenly across test groups)

    2. Shipping cost per order

    3. Product cost for each tested product

change your data type to product view data
click add cost button in breakdown table in analytics page
add your cost in the pop-up modal

PDP content test

Product cost is not pulled from Shopify COGs for PDP content tests. You must add it manually by following the steps below:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Scroll down to Breakdown table

  3. Click Add cost

  4. In the popup modal, enter:

    1. Ad spend (split evenly across test groups)

    2. Shipping cost per order

    3. Product cost for each tested product

click add cost button in breakdown table in analytics page

Shipping test

Follow these steps to calculate profit metrics when you are running a shipping test:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Click Set cost (next to Summary)

  3. Choose one option in Set shipping cost and profit margin popup:

    1. Set same shipping cost and profit for each group

    2. Set different shipping cost and profit for each group

  4. Enter:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  5. Click Apply

in analytics page, click set cost button and enter your cost

Url redirect test

Follow these steps to calculate profit metrics when you are running a url redirect test:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Click Set cost (next to Summary)

  3. Choose one option in Set shipping cost and profit margin popup:

    1. Set same shipping cost and profit for each group

    2. Set different shipping cost and profit for each group

  4. Enter:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  5. Click Apply

in analytics page, click set cost button and enter your cost

Template test

Follow these steps to calculate profit metrics when you are running a template test:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Go to Average metrics

  3. Enter in the input fields below:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  4. Click Save

in analytics page, enter the input field in average metrics

Theme test

Follow these steps to calculate profit metrics when you are running a theme test:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Go to Average metrics

  3. Enter in the input fields below:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  4. Click Save

in analytics page, enter the input field in average metrics

Checkout test

Follow these steps to calculate profit metrics when you are running a delivery customization test/payment customization test/checkout ui test:

  1. Go to your analytics page

  2. Click Set cost (next to Summary)

  3. Choose one option in Set shipping cost and profit margin popup:

    1. Set same shipping cost and profit for each group

    2. Set different shipping cost and profit for each group

  4. Enter:

    • Shipping cost per order

    • Profit margin percentage

  5. Click Apply

in analytics page, click set cost button and enter your cost

Related Articles
Analytics metrics explained - content test
Analytics metrics explained - shipping test
Analytics metrics explained - template test
Analytics metrics explained - theme test
Analytics metrics explained - price test
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