
Published Research
41 Shades of Blue. $200M.
additional annual revenue from testing 41 shades of blue for one button
Signal Outcome
$200M
The Study
Marissa Mayer tested 41 shades of blue for Google's ad links, each shown to 2.5% of visitors for two weeks while clicks were tracked. The winning shade generated $200M in additional annual revenue. The brain cannot consciously distinguish these micro-variations, yet it responds differently to each. This is neuromarketing's core insight: the gap between what people notice and what their brains respond to is where all the value lives.
Myelin Sheets Insight
“Every pixel speaks to the subconscious. A shade you cannot consciously distinguish can move $200 million.”
Research Details
- Tool
- Behavioral A/B Testing
- Year
- 2009
- Market
- Global Digital
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