18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

How do you split test landing pages on google adwords?

by ncloud
16 replies
  • PPC/SEM
    • |
I'm pretty sure google adword allows just one URL for your landing page. What if you want to do a split test with two landing pages? How do you do that on google adwords?
#adwords #google #landing #pages #split
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author AshleyRivera
    If Google Adwords wouldn't let you use two different URL's then you would need to make a separate campaign for the second landing page.
    Signature
    How to Save Money on Google Adwords
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11338674].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    I'm talking about the display network btw. So you would create a second campaign using the same group of keywords and same ads, but different landing pages. And then after some time you would compare conversion rates. Yeah I guess that would work. Thank you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11338780].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Nguyen
    Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

    I'm pretty sure google adword allows just one URL for your landing page. What if you want to do a split test with two landing pages? How do you do that on google adwords?
    Simple really, test 1 month, and then test another month. Or just run them side by side. Google is only interested in ensuring the pages are relevant to the search term, you can promote many urls on the same site.
    Signature
    FREE Cold Calling Course: >>> Looking for Serious & Aspiring Cold Callers to Train for FREE <<<
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11341325].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DripRevenue
    It depends. If the landing pages have the same domain you can put them in the same ad group. But if they have different domains, you have to put them in separate ad groups. Don't use any type of split testing tools just for one ad because it can lead to getting your accounts suspended for suspected cloaking.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11341539].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Apparently google analytics has a split testing tool called experiments which will let you test landing pages against each other in google adwords. You have to insert some tracking code into the header of the HTML of both landing pages. But, it can apparently give you a more accurate comparison. It's supposedly the best way to split test landing pages on google adwords.

    I think in google analytics, you go to "content" and then to experiments. It looks easy to use, but the last time I tried putting tracking code into my thank you page I had a hard time getting it to work. Plus you have to wait a couple of days. So I don't know, it might be easier to just have two of the same ads in the same campaign going to two separate landing pages. And kind of compare them that way.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11342130].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by Michael Nguyen View Post

      Simple really, test 1 month, and then test another month. Or just run them side by side. Google is only interested in ensuring the pages are relevant to the search term, you can promote many urls on the same site.
      Hi Micheal,

      That is not split testing, that is serial testing, and is far less accurate, takes much longer test runs to get actionable data. I wouldn't recommend it.


      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      Apparently google analytics has a split testing tool called experiments which will let you test landing pages against each other in google adwords. You have to insert some tracking code into the header of the HTML of both landing pages. But, it can apparently give you a more accurate comparison. It's supposedly the best way to split test landing pages on google adwords.

      I think in google analytics, you go to "content" and then to experiments. It looks easy to use, but the last time I tried putting tracking code into my thank you page I had a hard time getting it to work. Plus you have to wait a couple of days. So I don't know, it might be easier to just have two of the same ads in the same campaign going to two separate landing pages. And kind of compare them that way.
      Hi ncloud,

      Google does indeed have a rather limited split testing tool built-in that is called Content Experiments, however that tool is being deprecated in the near future. Instead you are encouraged to use the new Google Optimize tool which is part of the Google Analytics suite of tools:
      https://www.google.com/analytics/optimize/

      The way many folks perform Landing page optimization today is by using a dedicated Landing Page platform. All the top Landing Page Platforms have custom landing page builders, built-in split testing tools, that allow for quick iterations of landing page building and testing. Among the best, the favorite at my agency is Instapage, with their best-in-breed page builder tool, and native integrations with many other tools and platforms.

      Instapage is a favorite among ad agencies because of it robust and super easy to use page design tool and the ability to duplicate, iterate, automate, and manage many projects for many clients using large numbers of custom landing pages, i.e. a unique landing page for every unique ad.

      HTH,

      Don Burk
      Signature

      * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
      *       Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11342162].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Thanks for sharing that. I wonder why they didn't tell me about this tool on the google adwords forum, instead they told me to use content experiments. Is this new tool FREE to use?

    I made my landing page with Thrive Archetect - I don't think they have a split testing option, but I could be wrong. I should probably look into that.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11342711].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      Thanks for sharing that. I wonder why they didn't tell me about this tool on the google adwords forum, instead they told me to use content experiments. Is this new tool FREE to use?
      Hi ncloud,

      This it the better forum for Google AdWords. While we have plenty of new people learning, we have a bunch of veterans here with years of professional experience in this field. Go to the pros for solid tips and advice.

      Google Optimize is the new and improved replacement for Content Experiments, it works with most any platform, is very robust, and yes it is FREE to use. GO allows you to not only split test landing pages, you can split test shopping cart catalogs, including category pages, product pages, checkout pages, signup forms, and more.


      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      I made my landing page with Thrive Archetect - I don't think they have a split testing option, but I could be wrong. I should probably look into that.
      Hi ncloud,

      Thrive Architect does not include a split testing feature. Instead they sell it as a separate addon $67 per website as an addon, or $127 per website bundled.

      Thrive Optimize requires the Thrive Architect plugin and only works on Thrive themes in Wordpress. So it is a good option if you only have Wordpress sites and no more than a few. If you have a lot of websites, or need to go outside of the Wordpress platform it might not be a practical option.

      HTH,

      Don Burk
      Signature

      * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
      *       Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11345425].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Janvi Arora
    Earlier we used Experiments which allows us to test landing pages by split traffic. All you had to do is paste the tracking code in header of the landing page that split traffic by the percentage specified in the code. After testing these pages for 3 weeks, we keep the best performing landing page.
    Now we use Google Optimize for A/B testing of landing pages as it is more easy to implement as it allows us to choose type of experiment such as A/B test, multivariate test and redirect test and each one serves a different purpose.
    Signature

    Want to Future-Proof Your Online Business? Make Your Website SEO Friendly. Click here -> https://www.radon-media.com/services...-optimization/

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11344534].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Apparently Google Optimize is extremely new as nobody seems to know how to set it up. I've been trying to figure that out since creating this post. Nobody on the google optimize forum or adwords forum has been able to help me. None of their help articles help either.

    I've got most of it set up, but I'm stuck on creating the objective. I don't know what to put for that. I want to test two separate landing pages (separate URLs) against each other to see which gets the most sign ups. So I'm assuming you would pick redirect test. And pick custom for objectives. But I do not know what you would put for the fields on that page. Anybody know?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11356527].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      Apparently Google Optimize is extremely new as nobody seems to know how to set it up. I've been trying to figure that out since creating this post. Nobody on the google optimize forum or adwords forum has been able to help me. None of their help articles help either.

      I've got most of it set up, but I'm stuck on creating the objective. I don't know what to put for that. I want to test two separate landing pages (separate URLs) against each other to see which gets the most sign ups. So I'm assuming you would pick redirect test. And pick custom for objectives. But I do not know what you would put for the fields on that page. Anybody know?
      Hi ncloud,

      The "objective" for your experiment generally refers to your page objective. This tool is designed to work in conjunction with Google Analytics, so typical setup options will include whatever goals you have defined within the goals section of your Google Analytics view. If you do not have any goals setup you should definitely go ahead and do that before defining your Optimize experiment.

      You will select one of you predefined goals in Analytics as an objective, and enter a description of your experiment and the hypothesis you are testing. Since you have created a completely separate page, with it's own URL, it sounds as if you are performing a radical redesign test, so you might want to describe what different elements or ideas are being tested in your hypothesis.

      Here's a tutorial you can watch that might help you through the process:



      HTH,

      Don Burk
      Signature

      * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
      *       Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11356984].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Thank you.

    I'm not actually performing a radical redesign test I just prefer to make the changes with my landing page software which I already know how to use. The first thing I'm going to test is changing the background picture on my landing page. I'm not sure you can even do that with this google optimize browser extension. It also looks limited in other ways too.

    I have seen this video already and a few others as well, but I missed the part where he said you have to have an analytics goal set before setting an objective. I don't think any of the other videos mentioned that.

    I watch videos on how to set up a goal in google anaylitics, but there doesn't seem to be an option for what I'm trying to do here - split testing 2 landing pages. I can set a goal to track how many people sign up and making it to my thank you page, but that just tracking conversions. I'm not just trying to track conversions, I'm trying to split test 2 landing pages. So I don't see how setting a goal is going to help with what I'm trying to do here. If it is relevant I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around how it could be.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11357071].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      Thank you.

      I'm not actually performing a radical redesign test I just prefer to make the changes with my landing page software which I already know how to use. The first thing I'm going to test is changing the background picture on my landing page. I'm not sure you can even do that with this google optimize browser extension. It also looks limited in other ways too.
      Hi ncloud,

      I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to change the background of your page in Google Optimize, you can change or insert any HTML element as far as I can tell. They even provide a CSS editor and Javascript insertion features to make it very easy.

      Check out this Quick Tips Video for some of the advanced features:


      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      I have seen this video already and a few others as well, but I missed the part where he said you have to have an analytics goal set before setting an objective. I don't think any of the other videos mentioned that.
      As you can see it was definitely included in that video, and it is also covered in other videos (you may be watching videos from the wrong sources).

      Here's another quick tip video where they indeed mention that your goals from your Analytics account are automatically included in your Optimize Primary objective selections.


      Here's a video series to help you get started with Google Optimize produced by the team that built the tool:


      Originally Posted by ncloud View Post

      I watch videos on how to set up a goal in google anaylitics, but there doesn't seem to be an option for what I'm trying to do here - split testing 2 landing pages. I can set a goal to track how many people sign up and making it to my thank you page, but that just tracking conversions. I'm not just trying to track conversions, I'm trying to split test 2 landing pages. So I don't see how setting a goal is going to help with what I'm trying to do here. If it is relevant I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around how it could be.
      You can setup practically any kind of behavior as a goal in Google analytics. You can, and typically should, have multiple goals. In addition to your primary business objective it is generally a good idea to setup goals to track micro conversions (each step a user takes towards the macro conversion).

      Google analytics allows you to track virtually any type of behavior on your pages. Page views are just one of the many trackable events. You can track button clicks, link clicks, hover events, page scroll depth, time on page, form fields, form submissions, session page views, session duration, and many more things.

      I have found the best way to setup event tracking is by using Google Tag Manager to trigger event variables used for tracking.

      I recommend that you study these videos to gain a more complete understanding and use as a reference for setting up your tracking and measuring plan:




      Signature

      * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
      *       Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11358069].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steven of Polonius
    dburk dropping some serious value bombs here. I might have to set up a call with this guy
    Signature

    "Steven knows a thing or two about beating the odds" - Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11358475].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bestprotrade
    Yes agreed with Ashley google won't let you use two different URL's you have to make two different campaign for the second landing page.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11358641].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Thanks for the vidoes. I got it figured out now.

    google won't let you use two different URL's you have to make two different campaign for the second landing page.
    Not if you set up google optimize and pick redirect test. You can set it up so that 50% of your traffic to your first landing page gets redirected to your second landing page. That way you can split test landing pages.

    I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to change the background of your page in Google Optimize
    You probably can change your background pic with the chrome optimize extension but I just don't want to take the time to learn how to use it. I already know how to use my landing page software and I can make changes in it very quickly. So I prefer the redirect option.

    Thanks again.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11359669].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics