My client is really obsessive about analytic data. He wants to explore the tiniest details to maximize his open, click, and conversion rates. While theres nothing wrong in that, but sacrificing usability and the site's design in order to achieve better performance? He'd use an ugly looking red button only because it performs better than what fits the theme of the site.
Is it the right thing to do? What do you guys suggest?
Thanks!
If he is obsessive with conversion tracking, you are probably using a tool like Google Website Optimizer. Using tools like this give you the possibility to try all possible solutions using a/b or even Multivariable testing.
If you are using tools like this, you can propose several "nice" designs to prove that a better or prettier design can ameliorate his sales performance.
I tend to go pretty far when sacrificing design, when we are talking about improving conversion rates. If my customers are taking it too far. I often propose (and charge) a second site, competing with the first one. Like this you can use different strategies on each site.
As this website is quite technically oriented, question like this might get more answers on "online marketing" forums like Search Engine Roundtable, DigiPoint or Webmasterworld