Thrive Headline Optimizer (Legacy Guide)

Product Retired: Thrive Headline Optimizer was retired in March 2022. This plugin is no longer available for purchase. This guide is maintained for existing users who still have the plugin installed.

Thrive Headline Optimizer helps you find the perfect headline for your posts and pages by testing different variations and tracking engagement.

Getting Started

Using Thrive Headline Optimizer

You can create headline tests either from the plugin dashboard or directly from your post/page editor.

From the Dashboard:

1. Navigate to your Thrive Dashboard > Thrive Headline Optimizer.
2. Click Create a new Headline Test.
3. Select the post or page you want to test.
4. Add your headline variations.
5. Configure your engagement settings and automatic winner criteria.
6. Start the test.

Creating Tests Directly from Posts/Pages

You can also set up tests while editing your content.
Note: This feature works best with the Classic Editor plugin.

1. Open your post or page in the WordPress editor.
2. Locate the Thrive Headline Optimizer section.
   
   
3. Click Add new headline to create variations.
   
   
4. Type your new headline and press Enter.
5. Publish or Update your post to start the test.

In the WordPress posts list view, an icon next to the title indicates an active headline test.

Settings & Configuration

Engagement Settings

Thrive Headline Optimizer tracks engagement using three metrics:

1. Click Throughs: When a visitor clicks on your headline.
2. Scrolling Signal: How far a visitor scrolls down the page (default: 30%).
3. Time on Content: How long a visitor stays on the page (default: 78 seconds).

To adjust these defaults:

1. Go to the Thrive Headline Optimizer dashboard.
2. Click Settings in the top right corner.
3. Modify the “Content Engagement Settings” sliders to your preference.

Caching Plugin Compatibility

If you use a caching plugin, you might see a notice when creating tests. Thrive Headline Optimizer is optimized for:

• WP Super Cache
• W3 Total Cache
• WP Rocket
• WP Fastest Cache

Note: When you start a test, the plugin will automatically attempt to clear the cache for that page to ensure visitors see different variations. If you use a different caching plugin, we recommend manually clearing your cache after starting a new test.

Reporting & Analytics

Understanding Reports

You can view test statistics directly on your post/page editing screen (requires Classic Editor) or in the plugin dashboard.

On-Page Reports:

• Engagement Rate: The percentage of visitors who engaged with the content.
• Test Box: Shows current status and basic performance data.

Dashboard Reports:
To see detailed analytics:

1. Go to the Thrive Headline Optimizer Dashboard.
2. Click View test on an active experiment.
3. You will see a breakdown of:
   • Impressions: Number of times a headline was viewed.
   • Engagements: Number of qualifying interactions (clicks, scroll, or time on site).
   • Chance to Beat Original: The statistical probability that a variation is better than the original.

Calculating Click Throughs

• Impression: Registered when the headline enters the visitor’s viewport.
• Engagement: Registered when a visitor clicks the headline or meets the engagement criteria (scroll/time).

These metrics help you identify not just which headline gets more clicks, but which one drives higher quality traffic that actually reads your content.