Legendplugins

A/B Testing & Link Rotation

LegendLinks Pro+ includes powerful A/B testing capabilities through link rotation, allowing you to test different URLs and analyze which performs better for your audience.

Note: A/B testing and link rotation are available in Pro, Plus, and Business plans.

What is A/B Testing?

A/B testing (also called split testing) allows you to compare two or more versions of something to determine which performs better. With LegendLinks, you can:

  • Test different landing pages - Compare conversion rates between different URLs
  • Split test affiliate links - Test different affiliate offers or landing pages
  • Optimize user experience - See which URLs get more clicks and engagement
  • Data-driven decisions - Use analytics to choose the best performing option

How Link Rotation Works

Link rotation randomly distributes traffic between multiple target URLs based on weights you assign. Each time someone clicks your short link, the system selects one of your rotation targets.

Example Use Cases

Affiliate Marketing:

  • Test different affiliate landing pages
  • Compare different product offers
  • Optimize conversion funnels

Content Testing:

  • Test different blog posts or articles
  • Compare different call-to-action pages
  • A/B test email landing pages

Traffic Optimization:

  • Test different marketing campaign landing pages
  • Compare different pricing pages
  • Optimize user onboarding flows

Setting Up A/B Testing

Step 1: Create Your Link

First, create a new link in LegendLinks as usual:

  1. Go to LegendLinks → Links
  2. Click + New Link
  3. Enter your main Target URL (this becomes the fallback if no rotation targets are set)
  4. Fill in Title and other details
  5. Click Create Link

Step 2: Enable Rotation

  1. In the Link Editor, click the "Rotation" tab
  2. Scroll down to the "Rotation Targets" section
  3. Click "+ Add Rotation Target"

Step 3: Configure Rotation Targets

For each rotation target:

  1. Target URL - Enter the URL you want to test
  2. Weight - Set how often this URL should be selected:
    • 0 = Equal distribution (true 50/50 split)
    • 1-100 = Weighted distribution (higher numbers = more traffic)

Example Configuration

Rotation Target 1:
URL: https://example.com/landing-page-a
Weight: 50

Rotation Target 2:
URL: https://example.com/landing-page-b
Weight: 50

This creates a perfect 50/50 split between the two landing pages.

Weighted Example

Rotation Target 1:
URL: https://example.com/proven-page
Weight: 70

Rotation Target 2:
URL: https://example.com/new-page
Weight: 30

This sends 70% of traffic to the proven page and 30% to test the new page.

Step 4: Save and Test

  1. Click "Update Link" to save your rotation setup
  2. Copy your short link URL
  3. Test it multiple times - you should see it redirect to different URLs randomly

Understanding the Analytics

Accessing A/B Analytics

  1. Go to LegendLinks → Links
  2. Edit the link with rotation targets
  3. Click the "Rotation" tab
  4. Scroll down to "A/B Testing Results"

What the Analytics Show

For each rotation target:

  • Target URL - The URL being tested
  • Weight - The traffic distribution weight
  • Total Clicks - All clicks to this URL
  • Unique Clicks - Unique visitors (first-time clicks)
  • Non-bot Clicks - Clicks from real users (excluding bots)

Interpreting Results

Equal Distribution (Weight: 0):

  • Both URLs should receive roughly equal traffic
  • Compare conversion rates to determine the winner

Weighted Testing:

  • Established URL gets most traffic (safer)
  • New URL gets test traffic
  • Gradually increase winner's weight

Statistical Significance

For reliable A/B test results:

  • Small tests: Need 100+ clicks per variant
  • Medium tests: Need 1,000+ clicks per variant
  • Large tests: Need 10,000+ clicks for statistical significance

Best Practices

Testing Strategy

  1. Start Small - Test with low-traffic links first
  2. One Variable at a Time - Change only one thing per test
  3. Clear Goals - Define what success means (clicks, conversions, etc.)
  4. Time Frames - Run tests for at least 1-2 weeks
  5. Statistical Significance - Don't end tests too early

Traffic Distribution

Conservative Approach:

  • Winner: 90% traffic
  • Challenger: 10% traffic

Balanced Approach:

  • Winner: 70% traffic
  • Challenger: 30% traffic

High-Risk Approach:

  • Winner: 50% traffic
  • Challenger: 50% traffic

Common Pitfalls

  • Ending tests too early - Results may not be statistically significant
  • Testing too many variables - Hard to determine what caused changes
  • Ignoring external factors - Seasonality, marketing campaigns, etc.
  • Not accounting for novelty effect - New pages may perform better initially

Advanced Features

Multiple Targets

You can test more than 2 URLs simultaneously:

Target A: Weight 40
Target B: Weight 35
Target C: Weight 25

Geographic Targeting + A/B Testing

Combine rotation with geo-targeting:

  • Set up rotation targets for global traffic
  • Use geo-targeting for region-specific URLs
  • A/B test within geographic segments

Device Targeting + A/B Testing

Test different experiences for different devices:

  • Mobile-optimized vs desktop pages
  • App download links vs web pages
  • Different CTAs for different devices

Troubleshooting

Analytics Not Updating

  • Wait a few minutes - Analytics update with a small delay
  • Check link is published - Only active links track analytics
  • Verify rotation targets - Make sure URLs are valid and accessible

Uneven Distribution

  • Weight settings - Check that weights are set correctly
  • Traffic volume - Small sample sizes can appear uneven
  • Caching - Clear any caching plugins that might interfere

No Clicks Showing

  • Link status - Ensure link is set to "Active"
  • URL format - Verify target URLs are properly formatted
  • Bot filtering - Check if legitimate traffic is being filtered as bots

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change rotation targets after starting a test? A: Yes, but this will affect your test results. Consider starting a new test instead.

Q: How long should I run an A/B test? A: At minimum 1-2 weeks, or until you reach statistical significance (usually 1,000+ clicks per variant).

Q: Can I test more than 2 URLs? A: Yes, you can add unlimited rotation targets with custom weights.

Q: Does rotation work with other features? A: Yes! Combine rotation with geo-targeting, device targeting, stealth redirects, and more.

Q: Are there limits on rotation targets? A: No limits on the number of targets per link.

Q: Can I pause or disable rotation? A: Yes, simply remove all rotation targets to use the main target URL only.

Need Help?

If you need assistance setting up A/B testing or interpreting results:

  • Check our Analytics Guide for detailed analytics information
  • Contact support for personalized A/B testing strategy advice
  • Review our FAQ for common questions