> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.elevateab.com/elevate-helpcenter/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.elevateab.com/elevate-helpcenter/checkout-testing/how-to-create-a-checkout-experiment.md).

# How to Create a Checkout Experiment

This guide walks you through setting up a checkout experiment in Elevate — from configuring checkout elements to launching the test.

> **Requires Shopify Plus.** Checkout customization is only available on Shopify Plus plans.

***

### Step 1: Create an Experiment

From your Elevate dashboard, go to **Experiments** and click **New Experiment**. Select **Checkout Experiment**.

If the Elevate checkout extension isn't enabled, you'll be guided through the setup process. This is a one-time step.

### Step 2: General Info

Enter your experiment details:

* **Name** — Something descriptive like "Checkout Testimonials Test" or "Trust Badges + Urgency Banner"
* **Description** — What you're testing and why
* **Hypothesis** — What you expect to happen

For example:

> *"Adding customer testimonials and trust badges to the checkout page will reduce cart abandonment and increase checkout completion rate by addressing last-minute purchase anxiety."*

Choose your **experiment goal**. Revenue Per Visitor or Conversion Rate are the most common choices. Remember that for checkout experiments, conversion rate measures **checkout completion** (completed purchases ÷ checkout starts), not overall site conversion.

### Step 3: Configure Checkout Variations

This is the main setup step. Each variation represents a different checkout experience.

**Control** — Your current checkout with no additional elements. No configuration needed.

**Variation(s)** — For each variation, you can add and configure any combination of the following checkout elements:

| Element                   | Purpose                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Checkout Banner**       | A banner at the top of checkout for urgency messaging, reassurance, or promotional callouts                           |
| **Customer Testimonials** | Social proof with customer reviews and star ratings to build confidence at the point of purchase                      |
| **Trust Badges**          | Visual trust signals like security badges, guarantee seals, or payment security indicators to reduce checkout anxiety |
| **Payment Methods**       | Highlights available payment options to reassure customers about payment flexibility                                  |
| **Upsell Offers**         | In-checkout upsell opportunities to increase average order value                                                      |

Each element is fully customizable — you control the text, layout, styling, and positioning within the checkout. The configuration options are self-explanatory in the editor.

***

You can mix and match these elements within a single variation. For example, one variation might have a banner + testimonials, while another has testimonials + trust badges. This lets you test different combinations to find what resonates best.

### Step 4: Traffic Allocation

Set how traffic is split between your variations. The default is an even split. Adjust as needed — percentages must add up to 100%.

### Step 5: Add Audience Targeting (Optional)

Narrow your audience if needed — by device, location, traffic source, visitor type, or UTM parameters.

For the full list of targeting options, see [Audience Targeting](/elevate-helpcenter/experiment-setup/audience-targeting.md).

### Step 6: Review and Launch

Review your experiment — verify each variation has the correct checkout elements configured. Then click **Create Experiment** to submit.

The experiment moves into review status. Once ready, click **Launch Experiment** to go live.

***

### Quality Assurance

After launching:

1. **Start a checkout** — Add items to your cart and proceed to checkout
2. **Verify checkout elements appear** — Confirm the banner, testimonials, trust badges, or other elements are rendering correctly for the variation
3. **Complete a test purchase** — Go through the full checkout to verify nothing is broken and the order processes correctly
4. **Check on mobile** — Checkout elements may render differently on smaller screens
5. **Verify tracking** — Check the Raw Data tab to confirm checkout events are being recorded with the correct variation

> **Tip:** Use an incognito window to get a fresh visitor assignment. You may need to try multiple times to land on the variation (vs. the control).

***

### After Launching

* **Monitor results** — Check the Results tab to track checkout completion rates and revenue
* **Watch cart abandonment** — The Orders & Checkout tab in Advanced Analytics shows abandonment rate, checkout duration, and completion rate by variation
* **Wait for significance** — Checkout experiments may take longer to reach significance due to naturally lower traffic (only visitors who reach checkout are counted). See Statistical Significance.
* **End the experiment** — When ready, see [Ending an Experiment](/elevate-helpcenter/experiment-setup/ending-an-experiment.md)