If you are unfamiliar with the term bounce rate, it is a simple metric that represents the percentage of website visitors that come to a web page and leave the website without going to any other page. This term is related to another website term called “stickiness” which includes a website’s ability to keep website visitors engaged for longer durations of time.
Bounce rate is highly important to website owners because it provides an indicator of the effectiveness of the website and its ability to create a great experience for the user. Luckily, there are simple and easy ways for a company to reduce a website’s bounce rate and increase the stickiness of the site.
Here is a short list of just a few of the many ways on how this can be accomplished.
1. Let your message become obvious immediately from the start.
Clarity is a basic building block for establishing your message on any medium in the world of marketing. If your brand and message are not communicated clearly you can ensure your visitors won’t be sticking around to try and figure out what your business is about.
2. Be sure that your website has clear navigation.
Users should not have to surf the web to find your website and then feel stuck in an Internet black hole once they land on your page. If a visitor cannot find what they are looking for as soon as they enter your site, they’ll quickly leave. Create a clear navigation structure that is easy for visitors to use and allows them to go to other pages effortlessly.
3. Ensure that your online content is simple and easy to read.
Keep presentation in mind. Color scheme and font size and color are major factors. If website visitors find your online content difficult to read, they certainly will not read much of it and will not stay long on your site.
4. Consider investing in responsive design.
Responsive design allows a website to adapt to the screen size it is being viewed on, whether it be a desktop, laptop or mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone. This makes a website accessible and viewable across multiple platforms without having to create and maintain a mobile version of a website. It also creates a great user experience for your visitors, which encourages them to stick around longer and explore your site.
5. Improve your page load times.
When was the last time you waited more than 5 seconds for a website to load? For me, I honestly can’t remember. Visitors want rapid results when searching the Internet. They will not patiently wait for a slow site to download images and content and within 3 to 5 seconds those visitors will be well on their way to your competitor’s site. Improving page load times opens the door for more visitors to stay longer on your site, therefore reducing bounce rate.
6. Avoid distractions.
Many of the bells and whistles offered on some websites prove to be more of a distraction than help. Videos and audio that autoplay when a visitor enters your site are distractions that can actually break the user’s experience. Let your visitors play the videos and audio themselves to ensure you’re not interrupting their experience.
Lowering your website’s bounce rate is essential if you want visitors to stick around and eventually end up converting on your website. Use the tips mentioned above to improve your website’s stickiness and avoid losing potential customers.
Have you had success with lowering your website’s bounce rate? Help your fellow readers out and share your tips below!
