URL Switch Test - Setup to Test Keyword Cannibalization Fixes
This guide will show you how to set up a URL Switch Test in SEOTesting to test fixes you have put in place for keyword cannibalization issues on your website.
Within your SEOTesting dashboard, click on the ‘SEO Tests’ link on the left-hand navigation bar:
Click on the ‘Create a new SEO Test’ button at the top of your screen:
Click on the ‘Create URL Switch Test’ button:
You will be redirected to a new page allowing you to enter the details of your URL Switch Test.
Start by entering the name of your test, adding a description to let you and your colleagues know what the test’s purpose is, and adding any tags that you wish to add:
Note: We advise adding as much description as possible. When you look back at your tests in the future, having a good description will help you remember exactly what changes have been made.
One of the most common fixes for keyword cannibalization issues is removing page content and redirecting the URLs of the removed pages to another page, generally the page that gets the most impressions and/or clicks.
In the ‘Old URLs’ text box, enter the URLs you removed and redirected and the URL that will be kept in place. In the ‘New URLs’ text box, enter the main content URL that you will use going forward:
Enter (if needed) the Country Code you want to use or leave it blank to track this URL change across all countries and territories. Enter the date the change was made, and select the time frame you’d like the test to run for:
Note: If you want to run a backtest (a change made in the past), enter the date the change was made in the above box. This will allow SEOTesting to configure the dates based on that date.
If you want to track GA4 events during your test, ensure the ‘Track GA4 Events’ button is checked. Leave this blank if you do not want to track any GA4 events during your test. Select whether you want an email to be sent to your account when the test has been processed and completed:
Click on the ‘Create’ button at the bottom of your screen:
You will be redirected to the date selection screen.
The date selection screen is helpful if you want to extend your URL Switch Test's control or test period. For example, if you want the control period to be set at two weeks but the test period to be set at eight weeks, you can do this via this page before you complete the test setup.
Click on the ‘Save and Start Test’ button:
A final screen will appear, informing you that the test is being processed:
Within your SEOTesting dashboard, click on the ‘SEO Tests’ link on the left-hand navigation bar:
Click on the ‘Create a new SEO Test’ button at the top of your screen:
Click on the ‘Create URL Switch Test’ button:
You will be redirected to a new page allowing you to enter the details of your URL Switch Test.
Start by entering the name of your test, adding a description to let you and your colleagues know what the test’s purpose is, and adding any tags that you wish to add:
Note: We advise adding as much description as possible. When you look back at your tests in the future, having a good description will help you remember exactly what changes have been made.
One of the most common fixes for keyword cannibalization issues is removing page content and redirecting the URLs of the removed pages to another page, generally the page that gets the most impressions and/or clicks.
In the ‘Old URLs’ text box, enter the URLs you removed and redirected and the URL that will be kept in place. In the ‘New URLs’ text box, enter the main content URL that you will use going forward:
Enter (if needed) the Country Code you want to use or leave it blank to track this URL change across all countries and territories. Enter the date the change was made, and select the time frame you’d like the test to run for:
Note: If you want to run a backtest (a change made in the past), enter the date the change was made in the above box. This will allow SEOTesting to configure the dates based on that date.
If you want to track GA4 events during your test, ensure the ‘Track GA4 Events’ button is checked. Leave this blank if you do not want to track any GA4 events during your test. Select whether you want an email to be sent to your account when the test has been processed and completed:
Click on the ‘Create’ button at the bottom of your screen:
You will be redirected to the date selection screen.
The date selection screen is helpful if you want to extend your URL Switch Test's control or test period. For example, if you want the control period to be set at two weeks but the test period to be set at eight weeks, you can do this via this page before you complete the test setup.
Click on the ‘Save and Start Test’ button:
A final screen will appear, informing you that the test is being processed:
Updated on: 11/11/2024
Thank you!