Decide whether to turn a reader question into a calculator
Choose interaction only when it saves meaningful work.
Check whether inputs actually vary
A formula that accepts a visitor’s own spend and conversion can be useful as a calculator. A policy question may need a decision tree or a short explanation instead.
Sketch the smallest useful result
Identify necessary inputs, valid ranges, and one output the reader can act on. Test a zero or missing value early. If assumptions dominate the result, include a range or explain when the model breaks.
Compare with a static example
Show a reader both approaches and observe which helps them finish. If the answer is obvious with one example, improve the article before building an interface. Link the tool and article when they serve distinct tasks.
Try a related tool
Find the share of eligible visits that completed a defined action. Count at most one conversion per visit for this calculation.
