• About
    • History of Dallas SEO
    • SEO Expert Witness
  • Contact
  • Topics
    • Bing
    • Blogging
    • Branding
    • Domain Names
    • Google
    • Internet Marketing
    • Link Building
    • Local Search
    • Marketing
    • Public Relations
    • Reputation Management
    • Search Engine Marketing
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Search Engines
    • Social Media
    • Tech
  • Advertise
  • Email Newsletter

Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer on Search, Marketing, Tech, and Domains.

SEMrush

Home » Search Engine Marketing » Why You Should Be Using A/B Testing

Why You Should Be Using A/B Testing

Posted on March 1, 2012 Written by Bill Hartzer

A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a marketing practice that compares the performance of a control group with test samples, differentiated by a single variable.

This testing technique is used to improve conversion, response and performance rates on a variety of web and online marketing components, including emails, landing pages and call to actions. While larger companies have the luxury of dedicated IT and UX design professionals skilled with A/B testing, smaller businesses often have a single employee in charge of online marketing, if at all. However, there are simple, effective methods that can allow webmasters to perform A/B testing.

5 Tips to Consider when Performing A/B Testing
A/B testing is a broad field, and can be applied to various components within online marketing. Therefore, it is easy to see why individuals can become overwhelmed by the seemingly “scientific” nature of testing campaigns. Displace these misconceptions and consider the following tips when beginning your first A/B testing campaign:

– What are you testing?
A/B tests can be performed on a variety of different items, as long as you are comparing a single variable at a time. Email marketing campaigns, landing pages, and call to actions are common items that individuals test, each with their own components. For example, A/B testers can perform tests on subject lines, layout, or time of delivery in an email campaign, determining which has a more significant effect. Make sure that you define exactly what you are testing, or you may end up with skewed results.

– Create a Test Plan
Before you run an A/B test, it is recommended that you create an initial test plan. Consider all factors and variables that go into a test, before you actually run the real thing. In addition, plan out the objectives of the campaign, as well as the contingency plan in case the testing campaign takes an uncharted route. Doing so will increase the likelihood that your results will be stable and uninfluenced by additional factors.

– Big, then Small
Webmasters may be tempted to test single, specific variables, such as the color of the call-to-action button. However, if this is your first campaign, you may want to initially focus on the bigger picture. For example, testing the layout of your website or a certain blog design can provide the individual with valuable feedback, giving structure to future A/B testing campaigns.

– Use Available Tools
There are a number of resources and tools online that can help provide guidance with A/B testing. For example, Google Website Optimizer and Omminture Test&Target are excellent tools designed to help webmasters assess the effectiveness of their testing campaigns and perform analytics. If you’re unsure of where to start when testing, a variety of websites give examples of successful A/B testing campaigns, such as abtests.com and Whichtestwon.com.

– Understand your Goals
When conducting an A/B test, make sure you don’t fall under the spell of unrealistic expectations. Many people perform A/B testing, expecting a drastic difference from a single color change. However, individuals are advised to set expectations that can be easily measured. For example, guidelines for success can be defined by a shift in click through rates or increases in conversions.

Filed Under: Search Engine Marketing

SEMrush

About Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer is CEO of Hartzer Consulting, LLC, an SEO Consulting firm that includes services such as search engine optimization, technical SEO audits, domain name consulting, and online reputation management.

Recent Posts

  • Someone Stole My Domain Name: Here’s What You Do January 4, 2023
  • Web Hosting Services Market to Grow to $254.86 Billion by 2029 December 13, 2022
  • This SEO Blog Post Was Written by ChatGPT December 8, 2022
  • Facebook Rolling Out Facebook Articles December 7, 2022
  • Doing SEO is Better Than… December 6, 2022
  • Tucows and GoDaddy Report Q3 2022 Results November 6, 2022
  • How to Measure App Events Sourced by Organic Search and SEO September 20, 2022
  • Google Allegedly Eavesdrops and Monitors the Brain 24 hours a Day to Control Humanity September 14, 2022
  • Why You Shouldn’t Hire SEOs Based on An Email September 13, 2022
  • Global SEO Market to Reach $122.11 Billion by 2028 September 9, 2022
  • Bluehost Launches New Commerce Solutions for WordPress September 8, 2022
  • Which CMS? How to Choose the Best CMS for Your Purposes August 29, 2022
  • Accidental SEO Manager: Interview with Ash Nallawalla August 15, 2022
  • Sometimes Google Isn’t Family Friendly August 1, 2022
  • Something’s Seriously Wrong with Facebook Notifications July 12, 2022
  • Facebook Internet Tracking Settlement June 24, 2022
  • RankSense Acquired by SEOClarity June 1, 2022
  • LinkedIn Links, Digital Marketing News, and SEO Questions Answered May 9, 2022
  • GoDaddy Ending Forwarding of Existing Shortened Links May 5, 2022
  • 7 Ways to Protect Your Domain Name March 31, 2022

US Agency Awards Judge

DFWSEM logo

Bill Hartzer is a Brand Ambassador for:



Industry Friends

I Love SEO
WTFSEO
SEO By the Sea
Jeff Lenney
Jeff Gabriel
Phil Drinkwater
Dixon Jones
Brian Hartzer
Navah Hopkins

Connect With Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer on Twitter
Bill Hartzer on Instagram
Hartzer Consulting on Facebook
Bill Hartzer on Facebook
Bill Hartzer on YouTube

Categories

  • Advertising (19)
  • Bing Search Engine (6)
  • Blogging (42)
  • Branding (12)
  • Domain Names (209)
  • Google (236)
  • Internet Marketing (25)
  • Internet Usage (85)
  • Link Building (53)
  • Local Search (39)
  • Marketing (180)
  • Marketing Foo (30)
  • Pay Per Click (3)
  • Podcast (18)
  • Public Relations (8)
  • Reputation Management (9)
  • Search Engine Marketing (44)
  • Search Engine Marketing Events (48)
  • Search Engine Marketing Firms (19)
  • Search Engine Marketing Jobs (33)
  • Search Engine Optimization (164)
  • Search Engines (204)
  • Social Media (192)
  • Tech (7)
  • Web Analytics (17)
  • Webinars (1)

Note: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only, and are mentioned only to help my readers. All other trademarks cited herein are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.




Hartzer Consulting



Website, Content, and Marketing by Hartzer Consulting, LLC.

Copyright © 2023 ·