Integrating VWO Feature Flags with Contentful CMS

Overview

VWO integration with Contentful using Feature Flags in Feature Experimentation simplifies content testing and personalization. By linking VWO with Contentful, you can manage content variations using feature flags, ensuring the right content is shown to different user segments. This integration automates the synchronization of these variations between Contentful and VWO, streamlining the A/B testing process, minimizing manual setup, and making content experimentation more efficient and effective.

Enabling the Contentful Integration for Your VWO Account

To enable the VWO-Contentful integration for your VWO account, refer to the details below.

Prerequisites

• Ensure you have active accounts with both VWO and Contentful.
• Install the VWO - Feature Experimentation app from the Contentful Marketplace.

Procedure

1. Log in to your VWO account.

2. From the left panel of your VWO dashboard, go to Configurations > Integrations.

3. Click on the Contentful integration and enable it. The Contentful screen within the VWO’s Integration section looks like this:

4. Once enabled, you will get to see the auth token for enabling this integration in the Contentful.

Install VWO App in Contentful and Create Variations’ Content

To install the VWO app in Contentful and create content for your variations, follow this:

Procedure

1. Install the VWO - Feature Experimentation: Use this link to install the VWO - Feature Experimentation app in Contentful. Enter your VWO Account ID and API Key which you have copied in the previous step.

2. Navigate to Contentful Entry: Go to the Content section in Contentful and open the entry you want to test.
For example, the Agency Home Page as shown in the below screenshot.

3. Replace Existing Content with VWO Feature Experimentation Wrapper: Remove the existing content section you wish to test and click + Add content. Select VWO Feature Experimentation Wrapper from the dropdown.

4. Create Feature Flag: Within the VWO Feature Experimentation Wrapper, create a new feature flag. Give the feature flag a descriptive name (e.g., Hero Section Content).

5. Set Default (Control) Variation: Link the original content you removed in step 3 as the default (Control) variation.

6. Create Variations: Click Add Variation to create new variations for your test. Give each variation a descriptive name (e.g., Variation-1, Variation-2). Create the content for each variation within Contentful.

7. Publish Changes in Contentful: Publish the changes to your Contentful entry. This will automatically synchronize the variations and variable data with VWO.

Configure the Feature Flag Inside VWO to Run Test and Personalization campaigns

After doing the necessary configurations inside Contentful, you can switch to VWO to set up the campaign parameters like metrics, audience targeting, and other settings.  

1. Configure VWO Feature Flag: Access the feature flag in VWO to add metrics, integrations, or further refine settings.

2. Create Testing Rule in VWO: Go to the Rules section and create a new A/B testing rule. Select the variations you want to test and define the traffic allocation.

3. Activate the rule

Use VWO Feature Experimentation SDK for Filtering the Content

Once you have published your content, the Contentful API returns data in the following format:

Integrating VWO SDK to Display Contentful Variations: Add the provided custom code snippet to your website to integrate the VWO SDK. This code will fetch the correct variation for each user and display the corresponding content from Contentful.

Example of Node SDK:

Example For Android mobile applications -

Kotlin:

Java:

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while implementing the VWO-Contentful integration, here are some common problems and their solutions:

• Variations Not Showing: Verify that the feature flag is enabled in both Contentful and VWO. Check the VWO SDK implementation on your website for any errors.
• Synchronization Issues: Ensure that the VWO Feature Experimentation app in Contentful is correctly configured with your Account ID and API Key.
• Content Not Updating: Confirm that you have published the changes in Contentful after creating or modifying variations.

If the steps mentioned above do not solve the issue, reach out to support@vwo.com.

Some Best Practices to Follow

• Use descriptive names for feature flags and variations to maintain clarity.
• Regularly monitor the performance of your variations in VWO to identify winning strategies.

FAQs

• Can I use existing Contentful content for variations?
  Yes, you can link existing Contentful entries as variations within the VWO Feature Experimentation Wrapper.
  
  
• What happens if I delete a feature flag in Contentful?
  Deleting a feature flag in Contentful will not automatically delete it in VWO. You will need to manually delete it in VWO if required.
  
  
• Can I personalize content based on user attributes?
  Yes, you can create personalization rules in VWO to target specific user segments based on various attributes.