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What is SEO Testing and Why You Should Care

Let’s explore SEO testing: what it is, the best tools for the job, how long you can expect to see results, and some common pitfalls to avoid.

Like most marketers’ I’m sure you’re always looking for new ways to reach more potential customers.

SEO testing is a powerful tool that can help take your online visibility to the next level – but it’s something many marketers don’t fully understand. Let me explain what it is and how it can benefit you.

So, What is SEO Testing?

SEO testing is all about experimenting with different content, keywords, and site optimizations to see what really moves the needle for your search rankings. Think of it like taste testing new recipes in the kitchen – sometimes you hit the mark, other times you learn what flavors just don’t work. The goal is to keep refining until you’ve got a real winner.

Now I know what you’re thinking – “I don’t have time for experiments, I need guaranteed results!”

But hear me out. Without testing, you’re taking wild guesses about what will rank well. It’s like throwing darts at a board blindfolded. SEO testing gives you data to show exactly what strategies are most effective.

Isn’t that better than hoping for the best?

Let me give you a quick example. Say you want to rank for the keyword “dog toys.” Without testing, you might create one blog post about the best dog toys of 2023. But through testing, you could A/B test headlines, optimize internal links, try different keyword densities. This could show that posts with “funny dog toys” in the headline perform much better than generic titles. Now you know exactly how to optimize future content.

The benefits of this targeted approach are clear – you’ll rank higher faster for the most relevant and profitable keywords. More traffic means more leads and sales. As the old saying goes, “measure twice, cut once.” SEO testing takes the guesswork out of your strategy.

Now I know setting up tests can seem complex if you’re new to this. But don’t worry – any SEO specialist worth their salt can guide you through the process. They’ll help design simple tests that fit your budget and give you actionable results. And you don’t need to test everything at once – start small with one or two keywords and build from there.

The key is to go into it with an open mind. Not every test will produce a winner, but each one will bring you closer to that perfect recipe.

With the right SEO partner, testing doesn’t need to slow you down. In fact, it can speed up your growth by helping you focus efforts only on what really converts visitors into customers.

What are the Best Tools for SEO Testing?

 Now that I’ve convinced you of the importance of SEO testing, you’re probably wondering where to start. The good news is there are many excellent tools on the market that make testing a breeze. Of course, no single tool can do it all – the best approach is to assemble a toolkit tailored to your specific needs and budget.

Let me give you a quick run-down of some of the most popular and powerful options out there. Whether you’re just getting your feet wet or looking to take your testing to the next level, I’m sure you’ll find something here to help supercharge your search strategy. Read on to discover the tools I consider essential for any SEO tester’s arsenal.

Google Search Console

For beginners, our top recommendation is Google Search Console. Google offers this free tool to help website owners monitor their SEO performance and identify areas for improvement. With this tool, you can track your website’s performance in Google search results, find internal and external links pointing to your site, and discover any indexing or other technical issues that might be hurting your SEO.Google Search Console also provides insights into search queries, clicks, impressions and click-through rates. You can measure the impact of your content and spots opportunities to improve your SEO strategy and conversion rates. Finally, Google Search Console provides recommendations for improving your website’s performance based on industry best practices.

Ahrefs

For advanced users, we recommend Ahrefs. Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO tool that allows you to analyze your website and your competitors in detail. It provides comprehensive insights into your backlink profile, your site’s technical SEO, and your content strategy. It also shows which pages are ranking high and which pages need improvement.

Ahrefs has a Site Audit tool that crawls your website to identify technical issues that may harm your search engine ranking. It also provides keyword research and helps you analyze your content strategy, providing insights into your competitors’ keywords and their rankings.

SEMrush

SEMrush is another excellent tool for advanced marketers. It offers a range of features that can help you monitor your website’s performance, analyze your competitors’ strategies, and discover new SEO opportunities. With SEMrush, you can conduct comprehensive keyword research, track your rankings, analyze backlinks, and access competitor data.

SEMrush also has a Site Audit feature that examines your website’s technical SEO, including crawlability, indexability, and mobile-friendliness. Additionally, it provides recommendations for optimization and offers insights into on-page SEO.

Moz Pro

Moz Pro is a comprehensive SEO tool that provides both beginner-friendly and advanced features. It offers detailed insight into your website’s technical SEO, and it also provides keyword research, link analysis, and on-page optimization tools. Moz Pro uses metrics such as Domain Authority and Page Authority to help you identify areas for improvement.

Moz Pro also provides a Site Audit tool that examines your website’s technical SEO to ensure that it conforms to industry best practices. Additionally, Moz Pro offers keyword research, backlink analysis, and on-page optimization tools.

Remember, the right tool for you depends on your specific needs and budget.

Avoid These Common SEO Testing Mistakes

Now that you’re ready to start testing, I want to share some of the most common pitfalls marketers encounter – so you can avoid them. SEO testing is all about gathering actionable insights, so you want to design your tests strategically from the beginning.

Not Defining Clear Goals

Make sure each test has a specific, measurable goal in mind like increasing clicks, leads, or conversions for a keyword. Without clear objectives, you won’t know if your changes are actually working.

Testing Too Many Variables

Resist the urge to change 10 things at once. Test one variable at a time so you can isolate the impact of each change. Otherwise, you won’t know what’s actually influencing your results.

Not Testing Long Enough

Give pages and changes enough time to index and for effects to be seen. Most SEO experts recommend testing for at least 30 days for accurate metrics.

Failing to Track Key Signals

Use tools to monitor your target metrics like rankings, traffic, CTR and more over the full testing period. Analytics is crucial for analyzing success.

Not Sharing Results

Make sure to document all your tests – even failures provide learnings. Share what you learned with your team so others can apply insights too. Testing is a team effort.

Avoid these common traps and your SEO testing is sure to generate real value for your content and keyword strategies.

Just keep learning, refining and optimizing – success will follow.

Just Get Started Already!

I hope this post has convinced you of the power of SEO testing to take your search strategy to new heights. The bottom line is, testing will save you time and money by focusing your efforts only on the tactics that truly move the needle. No more guessing – you’ll know exactly how to optimize for top rankings and maximum ROI.

Don’t wait until you have everything perfectly planned – the best lessons come from rolling up your sleeves and just getting started.

I suggest starting small by testing one keyword or page element at a time. Soon you’ll get comfortable with the process and want to test more. Don’t be afraid to fail either – failures are data points that bring you closer to success every time.

Are you ready to take the first step?