Increase Your Web Traffic by Decreasing Your Bounce Rate
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
One of the easiest ways to increase your web traffic is to decrease your bounce rate. Google defines a bounce rate as one of the most misunderstood metrics in Google analytics. Here’s their definition:
Bounce rate is the percentage of single page visits (or web sessions). It is the number of visits in which a person leaves your website from the landing page without browsing any further.
One of the factors Google looks at when deciding your site’s position in the search engine rankings is bounce rate. A high bounce rate indicates that visitors are entering a page, usually your homepage, and exiting quickly. According to TechWyse, search engines rate your bounce rate as follows:
- Awful – 80%-100%
- Bad – 55% to 80%
- Average – 40% – 55%
- Good – 26% – 40%
- Very Good – 0% – 25%
You want people to be able to find what they’re looking for quickly. However, you also want them to stay on your site as long as possible. To keep people on your site – and lower your bounce rate – you want to keep them engaged in your content.
Here’s a few things you can do to decrease your site’s bounce rate:
- Pop-Ups – Many people find pop-ups annoying and will leave any site that has them. If your pop-up covers the visitor’s computer screen, they may not realize they can click out of it. Remove all distractions.
- Navigation – Create easy-to-follow intuitive navigation. Name the tabs on your menu with names that make sense. Use keywords when appropriate. Segment the information on your website. Choose clearly defined topics and build your pages and navigation accordingly. For instance, if you’re setting up a Property Search menu, only pages related to that topic should be included in that drop down menu.
- Web Design – A clean, uncluttered website makes it easier for people to find what they’re interested in. Page load speed is important. Google has a PageSpeed Insights tool analyzing your site’s speed and showing you how to fix issues. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Use text links. Add descriptive alt text and links to graphics and photos.
Search engine ranking includes many important factors. Your bounce rate is one of them. Do everything you can to decrease your bounce rate.
