Split testing is the process of showing different versions of your website, or parts of your website, to see how the results vary. For example, you could split test an entire sales letter or landing page to see which version converts the most browsers to buyers. Or you can split test individual items, such as different banner ads or affiliate links.

When it comes to how to split test, of course the first thing you’ll need is two or more things to test. So, for example, you might want to make extra copy of your sales letter with a headline, subheading, bullet points, etc. different. If you are testing banner ads, again you will want to test two or more side by side.

Once you have those different versions, the next step in how to split test depends on how your website is actually built. You will see that what works for a normal HTML website may not be the best solution for a dynamic website like one built with WordPress.

For standard sites, the use of Google Website Optimizer is recommended to allow you to quickly test a large number of different things on your website. For example, you could test 4 versions of your headline and 3 different checkout buttons to see which combination generates the most sales.

For WordPress sites, the best solution is a plugin called WpSplitTester that automates all the technical aspects and instead allows you to build concepts in the test.