Zoho PageSense for Conversion Optimisation: Tests, Heatmaps and Goals

What is Zoho PageSense and can it replace Google Optimize?

Google states that Google Optimize and Optimize 360 are no longer available as of 30 September 2023. Teams that relied on it now need another testing tool, and PageSense is Zoho's option. It combines web analytics, goals, funnel analysis, heatmaps, form analytics, session recordings, A/B and split URL testing, full stack (server-side) testing, personalisation, polls, pop-ups and push notifications under one tracking snippet.

For Zoho users the main draw is that it sits in the same ecosystem as Zoho CRM, Zoho Sites and Zoho Marketing Plus. Zoho lists integrations with Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zoho Commerce, Zapier and Intercom, among others. Other specialist tools such as VWO or Hotjar exist too; compare them on their own sites against your needs.

Which PageSense features are on which plan?

Plans change, so treat this as a snapshot and confirm on Zoho's PageSense pricing page for your region. Zoho prices PageSense by monthly tracked users, and the plans also differ by number of projects, goals and data retention.

Why should goals and funnels come before any test?

A test is only as good as the goal it measures. Set up goals first for the actions that matter: form submissions, purchases, quote requests, demo bookings or downloads. Then build a funnel for the main path, such as landing page, pricing page, form, thank-you page. The funnel report shows where people drop off, and that tells you which page to work on.

Form analytics adds field-level detail. If many visitors start your enquiry form but abandon it at the phone number field, that is a clear test idea. Our guide to Zoho Forms lead capture to CRM covers form design on the CRM side.

Give each goal a plain name that sales and marketing both understand, such as Quote form submitted, and agree which one is the primary goal for each test before it starts.

What do heatmaps and session recordings add?

Heatmaps show where visitors click and how far down the page they scroll. If most people never scroll to your call to action, moving it up is a reasonable hypothesis. Session recordings replay individual visits, which helps you spot confusion, broken elements or rage clicking on things that are not links.

Zoho says that by default PageSense replaces keystrokes and form inputs in recordings with asterisks. Keep that setting on. Watch recordings in batches tied to a question, for example ten sessions from mobile visitors who left the pricing page, rather than browsing at random.

When should you use an A/B test or a split URL test?

Use an A/B test when you are changing elements on the same page, such as a headline, button text or image, using the visual editor. Use a split URL test when the variations are separate pages with different URLs, such as a redesigned landing page. Full stack testing is for server-side changes like pricing rules or feature roll-outs, and usually needs a developer.

PageSense reports results two ways. In frequentist mode a variation wins when it reaches your chosen significance level, such as 95%, and the confidence ranges do not overlap. In Bayesian mode Zoho says a winner needs at least 100 unique visitors per variation, at least 50 unique conversions for the goal and a minimal expected loss. Low-traffic sites will wait a long time, so test bigger changes on your busiest pages and let a test run until PageSense reports a conclusive result.

How do personalisation and the Zoho CRM link work?

Personalisation lets you segment visitors, for example by source, location or behaviour, and show each segment different content. A common start is a different headline for visitors arriving from a specific ad campaign. Polls and pop-ups can ask a short question or offer a relevant resource.

Zoho's help pages list preset audiences such as paid campaign, organic search, social, referral, mobile, desktop, new and returning visitors. Custom segments can use the current or referral URL, query parameters (useful for UTM tags), traffic source, location, device, browser, operating system, day or hour, Google Ads traffic and even weather. The same segments can be used to target an A/B test, so you can test a change on mobile visitors only.

The Zoho CRM integration is one way, from PageSense to CRM. Zoho says visitors are matched to existing leads by email address, and goals achieved and session recordings then appear on the lead record. Zoho notes data is sent only when the lead already exists and goals and session recording experiments are running. Sales reps can then see which pages a lead viewed before a call. For the CRM side, see our Zoho PageSense implementation service.

What privacy settings should you review, and how do you start?

PageSense has its own cookie notice with three options: no notice, a notice without opt-out, or a notice with an opt-out. Zoho says the visitor's choice applies from their next visit. Its help article does not describe holding all tracking until consent is given on the first visit, so if your legal adviser says you need prior consent, ask Zoho support how to achieve that with your consent tool. Zoho also lists roles, audit logs, GDPR and HIPAA information on its features page.

Rules such as GDPR and the UK PECR apply differently by country and use case. Describe PageSense in your privacy and cookie policy, and confirm your obligations with a lawyer before tracking starts.

1. 1Agree two or three business goals and set them up in PageSense.
2. 2Build one funnel for your main conversion path and read it for two weeks.
3. 3Review heatmaps and a focused batch of recordings for the worst step.
4. 4Write one hypothesis and run one test at a time on that page.
5. 5Ship the winner, record what you learned, and pick the next step in the funnel.

We install PageSense, configure goals, funnels and consent settings, and connect it to Zoho CRM on a fixed price agreed in writing. See our Zoho Marketing Plus implementation page if you plan to use PageSense alongside Zoho's other marketing apps.

Frequently asked questions