FROM THE BLOG

How to A/B Test Your WordPress Navigation (And Why You Should)

Does your menu have 15 links? Three levels of dropdowns? Users getting lost?

Most sites never test their menu. They add links as they grow. Eventually it's bloated, confusing, and hurting conversions.

Here's how to fix it.

Why navigation matters

Your menu is on every page. It's the primary navigation tool. If it doesn't work, nothing else matters.

Common problems:

× Too many options (choice paralysis)

× Poor hierarchy (important stuff buried)

× Vague labels ("Solutions" vs "What We Do")

× Missing CTAs (no clear next step)

× Mobile disasters (15 items in a hamburger menu)

How to know if your menu is the problem

Look at the data:

Heatmaps show where people actually click. If your menu gets ignored, simplify it.

Session replays show the full journey. Watch people hover over menu items, get confused, and leave.

Click tracking shows which links work and which don't. Kill the dead weight.

AB Split Test tracks all of this locally in WordPress. No external scripts. No privacy issues.

What to test

Number of items - Watch conversion rate. Fewer is often better.

Most sites have too many menu links.

Control: 12 links

Variation A: 8 links (remove lowest performers)

Variation B: 5 links (only essentials)

Three navigation menu variations for WordPress navigation testing are shown: Control with 12 links, Variation A with 8 links, and Variation B with 5 links including a "Get Started" button.

Label clarity - Test which drives more clicks and conversions.

Vague labels confuse users.

Control: "Solutions"

Variation A: "What We Do"

Variation B: "Services"

Three navigation bars are shown: the control uses "Solutions," Variation A uses "What We Do," and Variation B uses "Services" in the menu; A and B have green check marks, illustrating an a/b test WordPress menu to optimize navigation.

CTA placement - Visibility matters.

Where's your primary call-to-action?

Control: Last item in menu

Variation A: First item in menu

Variation B: Button style (different color/size)

Explore three WordPress navigation testing designs: Control with "Get Started" at the end, Variation A with it at the start, and Variation B highlighting it in green to a/b test WordPress menu placement and optimize user engagement.

Mega menu vs Simple - Test what works for your audience.

Complex dropdowns can help or hurt.

Control: Mega menu with categories

Variation A: Simple dropdown

Variation B: No dropdown (flat menu)

Image showing three website navigation menu styles: a complex mega menu, a dropdown menu, and a simple horizontal bar. Text below suggests using WordPress A/B testing to optimize WordPress menu complexity for better user engagement.

Mobile optimization - Mobile users behave differently. Test accordingly.

Your mobile menu is probably different from your desktop.

Control: Hamburger with full menu

Variation A: Bottom nav with key items

Variation B: Tab bar (app-style)

Three smartphone screens display navigation styles for test WordPress navigation: a hamburger menu, a bottom bar with three icons, and a tab bar with five labeled icons—perfect for WordPress A/B testing or menu optimization.

Common findings

From tests we've seen:

  • Simpler menus usually win (6-8 items beats 12-15)
  • CTAs in the menu increase conversions 15-40%
  • Clear labels beat clever ones
  • Mobile needs different navigation than desktop
  • Mega menus work for eCommerce, fail for services

Your mileage will vary. That's why you test.

AB Split Test runs entirely inside WordPress. No external dashboards. No redirects. No privacy issues. Your menu is on every page. Test it.

Start testing free — 7-day trial of all features included.