AB Testing Shopify [A Complete Guide To Run AB Test]

An excellent way to check the quality of your Shopify website is by performing AB testing. You can do this with a specially developed plugin, AB Test Shopify, which is free and easy to use. I will show you how it works and also provide you with example A/B test screenshots so you can see how it works yourself.

What Is AB Test?

An A/B test compares two versions of a web page or app feature to see which one performs better. You can do it by randomly dividing users into two groups, with one group showing version A and the other being shown version B.

The data collected from the users’ interactions with the page or feature is then analyzed to determine which version performed better. A/B testing is used in digital marketing and UX design to make data-driven decisions about design and content changes.

How To Run AB Test On Shopify? A Step By Step Answer

To run an A/B test on a Shopify store, you can use a third-party app or a testing tool that integrates with Shopify. Follow these steps to get started:

Identify the element or feature you want to test, such as a product page layout, a call-to-action button, or a pricing strategy.
Create two versions of the element or feature you want to test, with small, specific changes between them.
Install a Shopify app or testing tool that allows you to run A/B tests, such as Optimizely, VWO, or ConvertFlow.
Set up the test in the app or tool by defining the variations, the audience to target, and the metrics to track, such as page views, add to cart, or revenue.
Start the test and let it run for sufficient time to collect enough data to make a statistically significant conclusion.
Analyze the data and compare the performance of the two versions.
Based on the results, choose the version that performed better and implement it in your store.

Note: Some apps or tools, like Shopify’s built-in A/B testing tool, may have different steps, but the general process is the same. You can also consider the size of your traffic and the test duration, as that will allow you to make accurate conclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does AB Testing Hurt SEO?

A/B testing should not hurt SEO as long as it is done correctly and with best practices in mind. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your A/B testing does not negatively impact your SEO:

Use a testing tool that does not use “cloaking” – Cloaking is a technique where the content shown to users differs from the content shown to search engines. It is considered a black hat SEO technique and can result in penalties from search engines.
Use rel=” canonical” tags – It will help search engines understand that the pages you are testing are variations of the same content and should be treated as such.
Use 301 redirects – If you are testing a new page, use a 301 redirect from the old page to the new page. Doing so will transfer any link equity from the old page to the new one.
Watch for duplicate content – Make sure that the variations you are testing do not result in duplicate content. It can result in penalties from search engines.
Monitor your search engine rankings – Keep an eye on your rankings during and after the test to ensure they are not negatively impacted.

Note: You should refrain from using A/B testing to make significant changes to the site’s navigation, structure, or URLs, as that can hurt SEO. Keep in mind the duration of the test. It should be long enough to get a statistically significant conclusion but not too long to cause any negative impact.

How Much Does AB Test Cost On Shopify?

The cost of an A/B test on Shopify can vary depending on the specific tools and apps you use to implement the test. Some popular A/B testing apps for Shopify include:

Optimizely: Starting at $17/month
ConvertFlow: Starting at $49/month
Split Hero: Starting at $14/month
Split: Starting at $19/month

Note: These are just a few examples, and many other A/B testing apps are available on the Shopify app store. Some apps offer a free trial, so you can test them before committing to a paid plan. Additionally, some apps offer a free basic plan and charge for more advanced features, so you should check the pricing and features of the app you want to use.

Note: You will need to budget for additional resources, such as time and staff, to implement, run and analyze the results of the A/B test. Keep in mind that you might not need an A/B testing app. If you have web development skills, you can perform A/B testing by using Google Optimize or other free tools available on the web.

How Do You Do AB Test In E-Commerce?

An A/B test in e-commerce involves creating two versions of a web page or email, with a tiny change, and then randomly showing the different versions to different visitors or email recipients. The goal is to determine which version results in more conversions, such as more sales or sign-ups. The process typically involves the following steps:

Identify the element you want to test, such as the color of a button or the placement of a product image.
Create two versions of the web page or email, with one small change to the element you want to test.
Use a tool such as Google Analytics or Optimizely to randomly show the different versions to visitors or email recipients.
Track the conversion rate for each version and determine which version performed better.
Make the winning version live for all visitors.

Note: You need to ensure that the sample size is large enough and the test runs for a sufficient amount of time to have statistically significant results.

Final Words

You can perform AB testing on your Shopify store in many different ways. You can use the built-in feature, but it does not let you compare two variations side-by-side. It has a limit of only ten tester profiles, so logging in with every single tester profile by hand is a time-consuming task. And if you want to run another variation as a control, it will not let you do this either.