How to Choose a CRO Agency in 2026
The questions that separate a CRO agency with a test process from one that sells lift percentages.
Key takeaways
- 01A CRO agency should show a test log, a hypothesis format and how it decides a winner.
- 02Guaranteed uplift percentages are a red flag: results depend on traffic, offer and the starting conversion rate.
- 03A fair scope covers research, prioritised hypotheses, test build, analysis and a written handover.
- 04Ask who builds the tests and who owns the analytics setup before you sign.
What a CRO agency should do
Conversion rate optimisation (CRO) means changing a site or app so that more visitors complete a goal, such as an enquiry, a sign-up or a purchase. A good agency starts with evidence, forms testable hypotheses, runs controlled tests and reports what it learned, including the tests that lost.
Questions to ask before you hire
- How do you prioritise tests? Look for a framework with explicit inputs, such as expected impact, confidence and effort. Vague answers suggest opinion-led work.
- Can I see your test log? A log with the hypothesis, the variant, the sample size and the result shows discipline. Ask what happened to the losing tests.
- What do you need from us? Traffic numbers, analytics access, the current funnel and a clear goal are normal requests.
- Who builds the tests? Some agencies design tests but depend on your developers. Confirm the split before you start.
- Who owns the data? Analytics, tag manager and testing accounts should stay in your name.
Red flags
- Guaranteed uplift figures, such as "30% more conversions".
- No written scope, or a scope that is only a number of tests per month.
- Results shown as screenshots with no sample size or confidence level.
- Pressure to run tests on low-traffic pages where results will not be reliable.
What a fair CRO scope includes
A reasonable first engagement usually covers: a funnel audit, a short list of prioritised hypotheses, the build and QA of the first tests, analysis of each result, and a written handover with the test log and the next steps. Ask for the scope in writing.
How Elgrith approaches CRO
We start with the analytics you already have, check the tracking before we test, and keep a public test log for each project. We give a fixed quote after a free 30-minute call, once the scope is clear. If a test does not win, we say so and explain what we will try next.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a CRO project take? It depends on traffic. A site with few conversions may need months of data before a test can call a winner, so the first phase often focuses on research and tracking.
Is CRO the same as SEO? No. SEO brings visitors; CRO improves what they do after they arrive. The two work best together, and a page that ranks but does not convert still needs work.
