Guide: Testing URLs

How to Create a URL Test

Step 1: Select Test a URL or a single page

Enter the test draft page and select the option to “Test a URL or single page.” While theme and template tests allow you to test changes across multiple pages on your site, URL tests allow you to test changes to individual pages. This test option is best for testing things like specific product pages, collection image order, site quizzes, and more. For more information, see URL Testing or click on “Help me decide” in the app.

Step 2: Enter your original URL

Think of your original URL as the starting place of your test. It is the URL on which visitors will be assigned to your test. Those assigned to the original will proceed onto the original URL, while those assigned to the variant will be redirected to the variant URL. To input your original URL, you can paste or type in the full URL or the relative URL. Explore valid and invalid inputs below.

Valid Input

Valid: Full URLs

• https://my-store.com

• https://my-store.com/products/product-a

Valid: Relative URLs or Paths:

• /

• /products/product-a

• /pages/pf-12345

Invalid Input

Invalid: Incomplete Paths

• /product-a

• Be sure to add the page type to complete the path (i.e. /products/product-a is Valid)

Invalid: Specific Markets

• https://us.my-store.com

• To target a specific country for your test, use our audiences feature on the test reports page

Invalid: UTMs

• https://my-store.com/?utm_source=facebook

• To target specific UTMs for your test, use our audiences feature on the test reports page

• Keep in mind, visitor UTMs will still be tracked for the test

Step 3: Enter your variant URL

In URL tests, site visitors will be redirected from the original URL to the variant URL. Following the same validation criteria outlined above, enter the variant URL when prompted.

Tip: Click "View in Browser" next to the Original and Variant URL to make sure you've selected the right page.

Step 4: Review your changes

Before you launch your test, follow these steps to make sure everything looks right:

• Preview the original and variant URLs in your browser to make sure the URLs are correct and visitors will be sent to the right pages

• Confirm you do not have Shopify Redirects or any 301 redirects set up on the original or variant URLs

If you need help conducting tests with Shoplift, our support team is always available to assist. Reach out from within the app using the live chat widget in the bottom right of the screen, or email [e-mail] to get in touch.