Reducing bounce rates is the most direct metric of our success helping clients expand their businesses
We at OWDT focus first on the single most effective litmus test in building you a better website: achieving a lower bounce rate.
A high bounce rate is generally the result of either getting the wrong kind of traffic to your page(s) or getting the right kind of traffic. Surprised by the second scenario? It applies to viewers coming to your site for information or a solution which they find immediately, perhaps access to a 1-800 number, for example. So, why should they stay longer? The good news about this category of visitor is that they’re likely to revisit your site regularly.
The average bounce rate in the U.S. is about 43%, meaning that about half the people who visit a website don’t come back. There are a number of strategies that can help create a lower bounce rate – which correlate closely with a higher conversion rate (e.g., purchase of your services or products).
Here’s a list of indispensable strategies –
Improving Load times:
“A recent study revealed that 47% of consumers expect web pages to load in 2 seconds or less and 40% of users leave a website that takes over 3 seconds to load. According to this same study, a mere 1 second delay can decrease conversions by 7%!” (KISSmetrics). To meet that challenge, we use SEO key word optimization (this also improves your site’s Google ranking); minimize code and scripts running on your site; use web-friendly images and avoid large image files that require resizing; and ensure that you have an adequate web server.
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Avoiding overused pop-ups and advertisements:
Your readers don’t have patience for distractions. So, we encourage you not to ask them to opt-in to any list, service or product. It’s much better to provide them up front crisp, persuasive information that they need to make an informed decision on whether to buy your products or services.
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Applying Google Analytics and other metrics:
You will benefit greatly from knowing which of your pages are most and least effective in keeping viewers engaged. A high volume page with high bounce rate is a sure sign that something is wrong. Similarly, what factors may be contributing to the success of pages with lower bounce rates? We assess all these factors for you.
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Adding valuable links to your sidebar:
What easily visible internal links, especially those on your sidebar, will appeal to the most viewers? Offering links to such things as your most popular products, a first time guide, testimonials, social media profiles, newsletters and blog posts are more likely to get clicks. External links can also be valuable in increasing your company’s credibility, though they MUST incorporate automatic backlinks to your site.
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Ensuring high quality content:
If your site’s written content is not informative or lacks the right kind of branding/marketing language, viewers will click away. Good writing begins with memorable and appropriate taglines. All your written content must be clear, concise, and tailored to the target audience. One simple assessment of readability: the Flesh-Kincaid score of your content. If you have multiple authors, work towards consistency of style and, by all means, triple check for any possible typos, grammatical, or spelling errors.
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Browser compatibility:
We at OWDT test your website on all standard browsers to ensure compatibility. Inexperienced web developers too often make the mistake of limiting their test to one or two browsers.
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Mobile usability:
As in previous blog posts, we encourage our clients to ensure their new website is compatible with mobile devices. All studies show that mobile device internet usage, now approximately 40% of total volume, will continue to increase.
