How a quiz mechanic works
A quiz is a structured dialogue between the shopper and the site: a series of questions answered by
a click or a short text entry. From the answers, the system assembles a personal product selection.
A classic quiz runs three to seven questions. More and drop-off rises; fewer and there is not enough
to select on. The right length depends on the category: five or six questions are justified for a
mattress, two or three for a phone case.
Tip: start with the most important question rather than the easiest one. Someone who has
answered a meaningful question is already invested and more likely to finish.
The double benefit
For the shopper: a quiz removes choice paralysis on a wide catalogue. Instead of working through
500 items, they get a personal shortlist of five to ten.
For the business: a quiz collects zero-party data — explicitly stated preferences. Unlike
behavioural data, which records what was viewed, zero-party data states intent: looking for a gift,
this budget, this ingredient matters.
Quizzes by vertical
| Vertical | Typical questions | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion | Style, size, occasion, budget | Outfit selection, sizing |
| Beauty | Skin type, concern, sensitivity | Avoiding reactions, finding a fit |
| Electronics | Who for, the task, budget, experience | Removing technical anxiety |
| Furniture / DIY | Room size, style, material | Fitting a specific space |
Quiz or AI dialogue
A classic quiz is a fixed decision tree with predefined answer options. The modern alternative is
conversational discovery on an LLM: the shopper writes freely, the system interprets the request and
clarifies parameters in dialogue. The LLM route is more flexible and demands more infrastructure —
retrieval over a catalogue in a vector database.
Placement and measurement
Placement: homepage, category page, product page (a help me choose widget), exit-intent popup,
mobile app onboarding.
Key metrics: completion rate, click-through from results into a product page, add-to-cart rate
among quiz takers, and quiz against control in an A/B test.