Using Split Testing to Check the Usefulness of Your Ads
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009Split testing is a useful technique for checking the performance of your ads and campaigns. You can use this technique for testing ads and different sets of keywords. You can also use it for testing sales pages and landing pages.
To test different sets of keywords, you can create two PPC advertising campaigns in which the only difference is the keywords used. By monitoring the performance of each campaign you will be able to judge which keywords are more effective.
So what exactly is split testing? It is when you have two ads that are both advertising the same product and you compare the performance of the two. You will keep tweaking one ad until it performs more efficiently than the first. This process can then be repeated using different ads until you find an ad that performs to your standards. You will then have your optimal ad. To keep track of the traffic and sales conversions, you can link the ad to a landing page.
By examining not only your ads and keywords, but also your landing and sales pages, split testing can help you make your PPC campaigns much more successful.
Using similar methods as with testing ads, you can also test your landing pages and sales pages. You will create two pages linked to the same PPC advertising campaign and have half of your traffic go to each page. Then by analyzing your sales conversions you will have an idea of which page is more effective. As you tweak the weaker page you will be able to create a page which outperforms the formerly stronger page. You will then be able use the strongest page for your advertising campaign.
So what are the benefits of utilizing split testing in your PPC campaign management? It will help you optimize your campaign’s ad which will also optimize your profits. The same is true for your landing page and sales page, which can destroy your PPC advertising campaign if not done properly.
Ads should be well constructed to do this. Usually the PPC ads will be designed like classified ads. There will be an eye catching headline, a body made up of two benefits and a strong call for action with a link to your sales page.
There is software available which can make split testing your PPC advertising campaign simpler for you. This can be a valuable tool if you are managing multiple PPC campaigns and don’t have the time to go through this process for each of them yourself. However, if you have only one or two campaigns to manage, it is recommended you follow the steps mentioned manually.
While split testing a PPC advertising campaign will take a lot of your time, it is a crucial part of your campaign management. By finding the weaknesses of your campaign you will create a bountiful reward in the form of larger profits. Often times changing just a few words can mean the difference between a successful campaign and a less profitable one. The first main focus of your testing should be your headline. Since this is the first impression to a potential buyer, your headline should be as strong as possible.
