SEO Split Testing: When You Should Use It & Why
More than 90 percent of the million-plus pages accessible via Google fail to get a single visitor through this search engine. If you’re seeing lackluster SEO results similar to this, you may still want to avoid completely starting from scratch. One way to do this is with SEO split tests. Here’s how they work and when to consider this tactic, brought to you by the experts at Saba SEO, a premier San Diego SEO company.
What Is SEO Split Testing?
SEO split testing is the process of presenting two similar versions of a webpage or piece of online content. There are usually only changes to certain elements, like having two different versions of the title for a page where the content is otherwise the same. You’ll then compare results from both versions of the page to see which one performs better for SEO purposes.
When Should You Consider It?
SEO split tests are important because it’s not always easy to tell why your presented content isn’t ranking well. Split tests take some of the guesswork out of figuring out what you need to change. This type of testing also reduces the risk of unintentionally changing something that’s actually helping your content or page. It’s a good idea to engage SEO split tests if you’re noticing:
• An inability to rank well after several months of trying
• Lackluster performance by only certain pages on your site
• Unexplained traffic decreases
How Is It Done?
With SEO split tests, it’s better to isolate elements you want to test, such as your headlines, URL structures, meta descriptions and titles, or main copy. Images, videos, and calls to action can also be tested. By isolating elements and running several tests, you’ll get more detailed results so you’ll know what to adjust and what to leave alone. Set up and complete an SEO split test by:
• Determining what you want to find out (e.g., “If I add a few more images to this page, will it perform better?”)
• Using tools like Clickflow to get suggestions for SEO experiments to try
• Using the Google Optimize tool in Google Analytics to run split tests for a specific page
• Using Google Ads to run split tests and get results that can be applied to your organic content
• De-indexing the test page/content to avoid duplicate content issues
SEO split testing isn’t something you should do once and forget about. It’s a useful technique that can help you fine-tune your optimization efforts as you make adjustments going forward. Just remember to regularly check your stats to see what’s working, what’s improving, and what needs some attention so you can determine if you need to run more SEO split tests.
If you’d like more information on how to perform SEO split tests, call on the SEO specialists at Saba SEO. As an industry-leading San Diego SEO company, we have more than a decade of experience in search engine optimization, website design and development, and social media marketing. To learn more about how we can help you enhance your overall SEO strategy, reach out to us today at 858-277-1717.