SourceSearchPilot
PublishedOctober 31, 2024
TypeControlled SEO test
SampleEcommerce category pages, split test
The short version: Text written for search engines rather than shoppers may be costing you. Test removing it before writing more.
What they studied
An online retailer tested removing the block of "SEO text" at the bottom of its category pages.
Key findings
- Removing the text produced a statistically significant increase in organic traffic from mobile devices.
- The desktop effect was negligible.
- A follow-up test on another section with text written for search engines showed a similar mobile gain.
Key learnings
- Text written for search engines rather than shoppers may be costing you. Test removing it before writing more.
- Check mobile and desktop separately; effects can differ.
Things to keep in mind
- One retailer. The exact uplift is only shown in charts on the source page.
Read it alongside
- 10 SEO A/B tests that moved organic traffic by 10% or more (SearchPilot, 2024)
- Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content (Google's guidance) (Google Search Central, 2026)
Source
Controlled SEO test by SearchPilot, published by SearchPilot, October 31, 2024.
We read the source and checked every figure on this page against it on October 13, 2026. Summaries and learnings are ours. Spotted an error? Tell us.
More research like this in SEO Insights Central.
