What's the best way to test blog post headlines, formats, and images?

1 Why test your blog posts?

Testing your blog posts is not just a matter of trial and error. It's a way to measure and compare the performance of different elements of your content, such as headlines, subheadings, images, layouts, fonts, colors, and calls to action. By testing your blog posts, you can learn what resonates with your audience, what drives them to take action, and what turns them off. Testing your blog posts can also help you avoid wasting time and resources on ineffective or irrelevant content, and focus on what works.

2 How to test your blog posts?

There are different methods and tools you can use to test your blog posts, depending on your objectives, budget, and resources. One of the most common and effective ways to test your blog posts is to use A/B testing. A/B testing is a technique that involves creating two or more versions of your blog post, each with a different element, such as a headline, an image, or a format. Then, you randomly show these versions to a portion of your audience, and track and compare the results, such as clicks, views, shares, comments, or conversions. The version that performs better is the winner, and you can use it for the rest of your audience, or further test it with other variations.

3 What to test in your blog posts?

Testing elements of your blog posts is essential for ensuring they capture the attention of your readers. Headlines should be crafted to entice readers to click and read more. You can do this by changing the wording, tone, length, keywords, or value proposition. Formats should be structured to make content easy to read and understand, and you can test different formats by changing the layout, length, subheadings, bullet points, paragraphs, or whitespace. Images should support your message, appeal to your audience, and convey your brand identity - you can test different images by changing the size, quality, style, color, or relevance.

4 How to analyze your test results?

Once you have run your tests, you need to analyze your data and draw conclusions. To measure and compare the performance of your blog post versions, you can use metrics such as click-through rate, engagement rate, and conversion rate. A higher click-through rate indicates that your headline, image, or format is more attractive and compelling. Whereas a higher engagement rate suggests that your content is more relevant and valuable to your audience, as well as that you have built a relationship with them. Lastly, a higher conversion rate implies that your content is more persuasive and effective in achieving your goal.

5 How to improve your blog posts based on your test results?

After analyzing your test results, you can use them to improve your blog posts and content strategy. To apply your findings, start by identifying the winning version of your blog post and using it as the basis for future content. Then, analyze the losing versions and understand why they performed poorly to avoid making the same mistakes or assumptions in future content. Experiment with new variations of your blog post and test them again, refining your content until you find the optimal combination of elements for your audience and goals. Finally, monitor and measure your blog post performance over time and adjust your content accordingly. Stay updated on the latest trends, best practices, and feedback from your audience to keep improving your content.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?