In the world of digital marketing, all that glitters is not gold… unless you’ve tested it first. Test websites, also known as “staging websites” or development environments, are a critical tool to ensure that your digital strategy shines as it should. But why are they so important and how can they make a difference to your marketing campaigns? Here we tell you.
What is a test website?
A test website is a clone of your main website, but in a closed and secure environment, where you can experiment without affecting real users or SEO. It’s like having a laboratory where you can make all the necessary adjustments before launching any changes or new functionality.
Key benefits of having a test website
1. Safe testing
Implementing changes directly on a live website can be a risky bet. With a test page, you can test how new features, design or even SEO strategies will affect your site without fear of breaking something or creating a bad experience for your users. Everything happens in a controlled environment.
2. Continuous optimization
Digital marketing is a constantly evolving process. Having a test page allows you to experiment with different versions of your website, A/B testing, optimizing landing pages, or experimenting with CTAs. This way, you can identify which strategies work best before applying them on the official website.
3. Better user experience
Regular testing of changes or improvements in a staging environment ensures that the official website is always running smoothly. From loading speed to correcting visual errors, a staging website helps you ensure that users enjoy a smooth experience. Remember, a bad experience can cost you more than a bad marketing strategy.
4. Avoidance of costly errors
Technical errors, broken links, plugin conflicts… these are just some of the issues that can arise when implementing changes to a live website. With a test website, you can detect and fix these bugs before they negatively affect your brand.
5. Safety first
By making changes in a test environment, you are also protecting the security of your main site. Cyber attacks are a constant threat, and any vulnerability that goes unnoticed can be exploited by hackers. Testing security updates and patches on a staging site ensures that when the time comes to apply them, your site is secure.
How to implement a test website in your marketing strategy?
If you haven’t created a staging environment for your website yet, don’t worry. Nowadays, platforms like WordPress, Magento or Shopify offer options to easily create staging environments. Here are a couple of key tips:
- Synchronize your test environment: Make sure the test environment is an exact replica of your live website. This includes all plugins, widgets, content and settings.
- Test regularly: Don’t leave the test web page in oblivion. Use it every time you are going to make important changes or launch new campaigns.
Conclusion
Test websites are essential to any successful digital marketing strategy. They allow you to experiment, optimize and ensure a flawless user experience without compromising the integrity of your main website. So don’t leave your success to chance: test, optimize and constantly improve.
Ready to take your digital marketing to the next level? Start working with a test website today and make sure that every change you make has the impact you want.
