7 SEO Split Testing Platforms You Should Consider
This article is all about split testing for SEO.
Shoot… wrong GIF. Not legitimately doing the splits…
Anyway, let’s get back on track.
This article will walk through 7 split testing tools for SEO. It’ll share information like functionality, pricing, and recommended use cases.
Contents
Before Getting Into The Tools… Can Split Testing Affect SEO?
Absolutely, yes.
Many people will think “this page/blog on our site is getting a ton of organic traffic from SEO. Let’s run an A/B test on it!”
Then, what they proceed to do is:
- Create a duplicate page with slight variations
- They don’t set up clear canonicals so that Google knows which page is the primary page
- They then accidentally start internal linking to both pages throughout the site
- They then set up a no-index on the duplicate page, not allowing Google’s bots to crawl it
You might be at this point thinking “holy f*$%, what in the world are you even talking about!?”
Don’t worry, the tools that we share have clear instructions on exactly what to do so you don’t mess things up! Keep reading.
All you need to know is that if you do split testing incorrectly, then your SEO performance could plummet.
SEO A/B Testing vs. Split Testing vs. Multivariate Testing: What’s The Difference?
SEO A/B Testing:
- Involves creating two versions of a web page (A and B).
- Traffic is divided between the two versions equally.
- Tests specific elements such as headlines, meta descriptions, or call-to-action buttons.
- Helps make data-driven decisions based on performance results of A and B versions.
- Ideal for testing single variables to determine their impact on user behavior.
SEO Split Testing:
- Expands on A/B testing by accommodating more than two variations of a webpage (A, B, C, etc.).
- Traffic is divided equally among multiple versions.
- Useful for testing more extensive changes or multiple variables simultaneously.
- Provides a broader understanding of the impact of different elements on user behavior.
- Allows for comparisons between multiple variations to identify the most effective one.
SEO Multivariate Testing:
- Tests a combination of different elements on a webpage to analyze how they interact with each other.
- Traffic is divided among various combinations of elements.
- Provides a more comprehensive understanding of user preferences and interactions.
- Suitable for testing complex changes and multiple interactions between elements.
- Offers data-rich insights for fine-tuning various elements on a webpage.
Before You Consider SEO Split Testing, You Need To Know The Parameters:
Not every website is primed for SEO split testing.
Here are the requirements:
- Your site needs a lot of traffic. Realistically a minimum of 20,000+ organic monthly visitors
- Your site needs templatized pages.
SEO split testing requires templatized pages
Here are some examples so you can determine if your site might be a fit
Sure! Here are further examples for each type of website:
E-commerce Site:
- Templatized category pages that showcase various product types.
- For example, you have different category pages for men’s clothing, women’s clothing, accessories, and footwear. All of these category pages follow a standardized layout with filters, sorting options, and product listings.
- Product pages with the same layout and structure for different items.
- For example, you sell smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Each product page features a product image, specifications, customer reviews, and a “Buy Now” button, all presented in a consistent format.
Affiliate Site:
- User-generated content pages with a consistent format for reviews or recommendations.
- For example, your affiliate site reviews different gaming laptops, and each review follows a specific structure with pros, cons, specifications, and a rating system.
- Comparison pages featuring different products or services with a standardized layout.
- For example, you compare various web hosting providers on your affiliate site, and each comparison page displays the same features, pricing, and performance metrics for easy comparison.
Directory Site:
- A large list of businesses or restaurants with templatized pages for each listing.
- For example, your directory site lists various pet grooming services, and each business listing includes a company logo, address, contact information, and customer reviews, all presented in a uniform manner.
- Location-based pages with a uniform structure for various cities or regions.
- For example, your directory site covers different tourist attractions in various cities, and each location page provides essential information, photos, and visitor reviews in a standardized layout.
Multi-location service or brick & mortar business website:
- City pages showcasing all of your locations in that city
- For example, your multi-location ice cream shop business has a city page for Portland, OR showing the 7 locations you have throughout the metro area
- Actual location pages for each of your locations
- For example, your 27 location yoga studio has a specific location page for each location, showing NAP (name, address, phone number), services provided at that location (yoga & tai chi), etc.
Recipe Website:
- Recipe pages with a uniform format, featuring ingredients, preparation instructions, cooking times, and serving suggestions for each recipe.
- Such as one page for ground beef tacos and another page for creamy caesar salad
- Category pages showcasing various recipe types, all following the same template with thumbnail images and filtering options.
- For example, a category page for recipes that fall under the Keto diet and another category page for recipes that fall under the Paleo diet
Small Scale Tests vs. Large Scale Tests:
SEO Title Tag Split-Testing Across Templatized Pages = Small Test
Running SEO split tests can be relatively simple.
For example, maybe you run a directly site for physical therapists with hundreds of city pages (basically a page showcasing all of the physical therapists in Las Vegas, or Sacramento, or Miami)
And right now, your title tag structure for those pages is…
“[city] [physical therapists] that accept insurance”
… but you want to do an SEO split test against that baseline title tag to. Something like…
“[#] [city] [physical therapists] that accept insurance”
… so it would look like…
- Split Test A: “Las Vegas physical therapists that accept insurance”
- Split Test B: “17 Las Vegas physical therapists that accept insurance.
Running a test like this really isn’t that crazy. No change in website design… No change to the calls-to-action on the pages… Just the title tag!
Reconfiguring Landing Page Design Across Templatized Pages = Larger Test
However, you might also want to run a larger test to see if a new design may impact SEO.
You’ve got a website that sells used cars. Each individual car for sale as a specific template.
And while all the content on the page is going to be the same…
- Car description
- Images of the car
- Location information
- Shipping information
- Etc
The way the page is structured and organized is going to be different.
And before you go ahead and implement this design change that could influence the performance of HUNDREDS of pages, you want to make sure the SEO performance doesn’t take a huge dip.
This test is more robust than just tweaking title tags.
SEO Split Testing Platforms:
SEO Split Testing Tool 1: ABTestingSoftware.com
The first split AB testing software is ABTestingSoftware.com is a basic split testing tool that allows you to run a 50/50 split to two landing pages/blogs.
Use Cases:
It’s best for small/medium sized websites with limited traffic looking to run basic split tests.
Is it okay for SEO?:
Yep, as long as when you create a duplicate page, you follow Google’s recommended canonicalization and crawling strategies (which if you’re reading this article, then you DEFINITELY need to read Google’s instructions!), then there’s nothing to worry about!
Pricing:
For the majority of users, ABTestingSoftware.com will be totally free. Once you reach a certain amount of traffic/tests, then you’ll have to pay a small fee.
SEO Split Testing Tool 2: Search Pilot
Search Pilot is a powerful split testing tool that caters to both small and large websites, offering advanced capabilities for running A/B tests. With Search Pilot, you can easily split traffic between two landing pages or blog variations to measure their performance.
Use Cases:
This tool is ideal for websites of all sizes, especially those looking for more advanced split testing features and accurate data analysis to optimize their SEO efforts effectively.
Is it okay for SEO?
Absolutely! Search Pilot complies with Google’s recommended canonicalization and crawling strategies, ensuring that duplicate pages created during testing won’t negatively impact your SEO efforts.
Pricing:
Paid.
Search Pilot offers various pricing tiers based on the scale of your testing needs. For smaller websites, the basic plan may be suitable, while larger websites with extensive traffic and testing requirements can explore higher-tier options.
SEO Split Testing Tool 3: Optimizely
Optimizely is a widely recognized split testing tool used by businesses worldwide. It provides a user-friendly interface and allows you to conduct A/B tests effortlessly.
Use Cases:
Optimizely caters to businesses of all sizes, making it suitable for small, medium, and large websites looking to optimize their webpages through split testing.
Is it okay for SEO?
Yes, Optimizely ensures that the testing process adheres to SEO best practices, preventing any negative impact on search rankings or user experience.
Pricing:
Paid.
Optimizely’s pricing varies based on the features and scale required. They offer different plans to suit the needs of different businesses, and custom enterprise solutions are available for larger organizations.
SEO Split Testing Tool 4: ClarityAutomate
SEO Clarity, also known as ClarityAutomate, is a comprehensive SEO platform that includes a robust split testing feature for improving website performance.
Use Cases:
This tool caters to medium and large websites seeking an all-in-one SEO solution, including split testing capabilities.
Is it okay for SEO?
Absolutely! SEO Clarity ensures that your split testing activities align with SEO best practices to maintain search engine visibility.
Pricing:
Paid.
SEO Clarity offers customizable pricing plans tailored to your specific needs. Their flexible options allow you to choose the features and scale that suit your budget.
SEO Split Testing Tool 5: SplitSignal
SplitSignal is a user-friendly split testing tool designed for small and medium-sized websites, providing simple yet effective A/B testing functionalities.
Use Cases:
This tool is perfect for small to medium-sized websites that want an easy-to-use split testing solution without unnecessary complexities.
Is it okay for SEO?
Yes, SplitSignal ensures that your split tests won’t negatively impact your SEO efforts, following best practices for duplicate pages.
Pricing:
Paid.
For a few users, SplitSignal offers a free plan that covers basic testing needs. But for many users, advanced features and higher traffic requirements, premium plans are available at a cost.
SEO Split Testing Tool 6: AB Tasty
AB Tasty is a versatile split testing platform that caters to businesses of all sizes, offering advanced personalization and optimization features.
Use Cases:
This tool is suitable for websites and e-commerce platforms of all sizes that require in-depth split testing and personalization capabilities.
Is it okay for SEO?
Certainly! AB Tasty ensures that SEO concerns are addressed during split testing, maintaining the integrity of your website’s search engine visibility.
Pricing:
Paid.
AB Tasty offers tiered pricing plans to accommodate the needs and budgets of different businesses. They also provide custom enterprise solutions for larger organizations.
SEO Split Testing Tool 7: Adobe Target
Adobe Target is a sophisticated split testing tool offered by Adobe’s Marketing Cloud suite, delivering enterprise-grade optimization capabilities.
Use Cases:
This tool is best suited for large enterprises and organizations seeking a comprehensive split testing and personalization solution.
Is it okay for SEO?
Absolutely! Adobe Target’s robust testing features comply with SEO guidelines, ensuring your website’s search engine rankings remain unaffected.
Pricing:
Paid.
Adobe Target offers custom pricing options based on your specific business needs. Their enterprise solutions provide a wide range of features and flexibility for large-scale optimization.
By utilizing these split testing tools, you can gain valuable insights to improve your website’s performance and user experience, making data-driven decisions for successful SEO optimization.
Joey Randazzo
Owner & CEO of Portland SEO Growth
