Course chapters

1. What is A/B testing

Intro to a/b testing, test types, and why testing beats guessing.

2. Things you should be A/B testing

Key elements you can A/B test to increase conversions and reduce bounce rate.

3. How to start A/B testing

A six step process to go from zero to running reliable A/B tests.

4. Improving the quality of your A/B tests

Five practical ways to improve the quality and reliability of your A/B tests.

5. Common A/B testing mistakes to avoid

The most common A/B testing mistakes and how to avoid wasting time and data.

6. A/B testing and SEO

How to run A/B tests without harming your SEO.

6. A/B testing and SEO

How to run A/B tests without harming your SEO.

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How A/B testing affects SEO

In this lesson, you will learn how to run A/B tests without negatively impacting your SEO.

First, avoid cloaking. Cloaking means showing search engines one version of a page while showing real users another. Simply splitting traffic between variants is completely fine. Problems occur when you intentionally show Googlebot something different than what users see. Make sure your testing tool does not use cloaking practices.

Second, use the correct type of redirects. If you are running a split test that redirects users from one URL to another, use temporary 302 redirects or JavaScript redirects. Do not use permanent 301 redirects, as they signal to Google that the original page no longer exists and can damage the SEO value of important pages.

Third, perform proper cleanup after tests conclude. Over time, running many A/B tests can leave hidden elements on your site. Even if users cannot see them, search engines still can. Once a test is finished, implement the winning variation permanently and remove unnecessary testing elements.

When done correctly, A/B testing should not harm your SEO. Following these best practices ensures you can optimize for conversions without sacrificing organic traffic.