Hi Jennifer,
- The number of stages included in a conversion path can vary depending on the specific industry, target audience, and product/service offered. Generally, it’s better to start with fewer steps and add more over time as needed. Starting with a simple, clear path can make it easier for customers to follow and for businesses to measure their success. As the business and the customer base grow, the path can be adjusted and expanded accordingly. However, it’s important to make sure that the path includes all the essential touchpoints necessary to move the customer towards conversion.
- Optional steps can impact reporting by providing additional data points and insights into the customer journey. For example, if a customer skips an optional step, it may indicate that it’s not important to them or that they’re not ready to take that step yet. This information can be used to adjust and optimize the path. When viewing reports, optional steps may be shown as a separate category or as a part of the overall path. It’s important to track the performance of optional steps separately to measure their effectiveness and impact on the conversion rate.