Carl Riedel

Carl Riedel

Web and Software Developer

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SEO Experiments To Improve Your Link Building Strategy

I regularly run experiments to confirm theories, ideas and opinions that I have about SEO. Without proper experimentation you are always relying on data, experiences and knowledge from third parties. The experiments I run are usually outside the scope of the 'user journey'.

On this page I'm sharing some tips for setting up your own SEO tests, and you will also find links to some of the experiments, I've conducted and their outcome.

SEO Experiments To Improve Your Link Building Strategy

What are SEO experiments?

There is no one answer to this question as SEO experiments can take many forms. However, some common SEO experiments include A/B testing, trying different title tags or meta descriptions, testing different keyword placements, or trying out different content formats, testing links and much more. The goal of SEO experiments is to test what works and what doesn't work in order to improve a website's search engine ranking.

How important are SEO experiments?

SEO experiments are important for a number of reasons. They help you understand how search engines work and what factors influence their algorithms. Additionally, experiments allow you to test different hypotheses about what works and what doesn't in terms of SEO.

Where should I start my SEO experiments?

There is no one answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including your website's current state, your goals, and your budget. However, here are a few general tips to get you started:

Before you start any SEO experiments, it's important to do your research and understand the basics of SEO. This will help you identify which areas you need to focus on and what potential changes could have the biggest impact.

I usually start my tests on a brand new domain, to rule out the possibility of (old) backlinks and (possible) penalties affecting the indexing or skewing my results.

Another important factor (at least with back link testing), is to use content and keywords that have zero searches. The content that I use looks something like this. (See image below)

Where do you need to be careful when conducting SEO experiments?

There are a few things you need to be aware of when conducting SEO experiments:

  • Make sure you have a solid understanding of what you're testing. Otherwise, you could end up making changes that could have negative consequences.
  • If testing on a live website, always test on a small scale first. That way, if something goes wrong, you can easily revert your changes.
  • Be prepared to adjust your experiment as you go.

Shared Experiments

Can You Rank a Web Page With a Google Lens URL?

What are some best practices for designing and conducting SEO experiments?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best practices for designing and conducting SEO experiments will vary depending on the specific goals and objectives of the experiment. However, some general tips and guidelines that you can follow to ensure the success of your SEO experiment include:

Define the goals and objectives of the experiment before anything else. What exactly are you hoping to find out through the experiment?
  • Whenever possible conduct your experiment on a dummy domain.
  • If possible use content and keywords that have zero competition. This will eliminate the intrusion of other people's SEO with skewing your test.
  • Only test a single variable, whenever possible.
  • Keep meticulous notes of everything you do during the experiment.

What are the benefits of SEO experiments?

There are many benefits to conducting SEO experiments. By testing different tactics and strategies, you can determine what works best for your website and your audience. This can help you improve your overall SEO performance and ranking. Additionally, experiments can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes in the SEO landscape. By constantly testing and tweaking your approach, you can ensure that you are always ahead of the curve.

What are the success rates of SEO experiments?

There are a number of factors that contribute to the success of SEO experiments. The most important factor is the quality of the SEO research. Experiments that are well-designed and executed are more likely to produce valid and reliable results. Other factors that can influence the success of SEO experiments include the sample size, the number of variables, and the level of control.