What are Title Experiments?
A Title Experiment is a method used to compare two different versions of your story Title to determine which one performs better with your readers.
How do Title Experiments work?
Imagine you're a chef tweaking a recipe to make it perfect. Now, think of authors doing the same with their stories. Instead of just guessing what readers will love, they can use Title Test Experiments, like chefs experimenting with dishes.
Picture this: your story has two versions of a Title, like two versions of a dish. Instead of relying on gut feelings, you let readers see Title A or B. You collect data on how well they understand, remember, and enjoy the story. It's like letting people taste-test your dish variations.
Once the experiment's done, you use the data to choose the best Title for all readers. It's like finding the winning recipe that everyone will love.
How do I set up Title Experiments?
Log in to your Inkitt Author Dashboard to get started.
Look for the "Experiments" tab in your Author Dashboard.
In the Experiments tab, you'll find widgets showcasing metadata and analytics for all your tests. You'll also see controls for test status, a filter for test types, and more.
- Click on the button to create a new experiment.
- Select the story you want to conduct the experiment on.
- Your original Title will show up automatically as the "Original" and then you can write the new Title as the "Test."
Once you've configured your experiment settings, you're ready to launch it and start collecting data!
What stories can have Title Experiments?
To have Title Experiments, stories need to meet the following criteria:
Not in an Active Experiment: Stories that are not currently part of an ongoing experiment are eligible. This prevents overwhelming authors and ensures manageable experiment loads.
Word Count Requirement: To ensure reliable statistical results, stories should have a minimum word count of 10,000 words. This threshold increases the likelihood of reaching significance and enhances the accuracy of the experiment's outcomes.
Approved by Story Content Guidelines Team: Only stories that have been approved through our Story Content Guideline Review process are eligible. This ensures that the content aligns with our quality standards and guidelines.
Are contest entries and subscription-tier stories allowed to have Title Experiments?
Stories participating in the Subscription Program and contest entries are also eligible for Title experiments. We believe in maximizing opportunities for all authors to optimize their story's performance.
How do I tell when a Title Experiment wins?
The experiment tracks various engagement metrics, such as clicks and views. A variant wins when the data collected is substantial enough to confidently conclude that one Title design outperforms the other. This is essential to ensure that the observed improvement is not just due to chance.
In the Experiments dashboard, Inkitt will show you whether a Title is performing higher than the other Title, and will give you the option to conclude the experiment.
When you conclude it, you’ll have the option to keep the original Title, or change it to the test Title, based on the results of the experiment.
As the author, you do get the final say in which Title stays!
What does it mean when a Title Experiment wins?
When an experiment wins, that means that you're able to make a decision based on real data and reader engagement. This helps you make informed choices about your story's presentation, ultimately increasing the likelihood of attracting more readers and improving its overall performance.