Click here for our complete SEO glossary.
What if there was a way to improve your website’s SEO without having to guess what works and what doesn’t? A way that allows you to test different strategies to see which one brings in the most traffic and conversions?
Well, there is. It’s called split testing (or A/B testing), and it can help you improve your website’s SEO significantly. In this post, we’ll discuss what split testing is, how it works, and the benefits of using it for your SEO strategy.
What is split testing (A/B testing)?
Split testing, also known as A/B testing, is a method of comparing two versions of a web page to see which one performs better. It’s a way of experimentation that allows you to test different hypotheses about what works best on your website.
For example, let’s say you want to test whether a change in the color of your CTA button will increase conversions. With split testing, you would create two versions of the same web page – one with the original CTA button color, and one with the new color. Then, you would send half of your website traffic to each version and see which one performs better.
Split testing can be used to test anything on your website – from changes in copy and design, to different landing pages and funnels. The only limit is your imagination!
How does split testing (A/B testing) work?
Split testing works by sending traffic to two (or more) different versions of a web page and seeing which one performs better. The goal is to find the version that produces the most desired outcome – whether that’s more traffic, more conversions, or something else entirely.
To set up a split test, you first need to create at least two versions of the web page you want to test. These can be identical except for the element you want to test, or they can be completely different pages. Once you have your pages created, you need to set up a way to send traffic to each version.
There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is to use a tool like Google Analytics or Optimizely. These tools allow you to create separate URLs for each page and track the performance of each one. Once you have your pages set up and your traffic being tracked, all you need to do is wait for the results!
What are the benefits of split testing (A/B testing)?
Split testing offers a number of benefits that can help you improve your website’s SEO. First, it allows you to test different hypotheses about what works on your site without having to guess. This means that you can make changes based on data, rather than guesswork.
Second, split testing can help you find the best performing version of a web page. This is especially valuable for landing pages and other key pages on your site. By finding the version that performs the best, you can ensure that your website is optimized for traffic and conversions.
Finally, split testing can help you fine-tune your website to perfection. By constantly testing and iterating on different elements, you can gradually improve your website’s performance over time. This process of continual optimization can have a significant impact on your SEO results.
Conclusion
Split testing (or A/B testing) is a powerful method of experimentation that can help you improve your website’s SEO significantly. By testing different hypotheses and versions of your web pages, you can find the best performing ones and optimize your site for traffic and conversions. If you’re not already using split testing as part of your SEO strategy, now is the time to start!
Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).
