Does your Business website suffer from a high bounce rate? Are you looking for ways to improve your website conversion rate?
Here are some blunders to avoid for less bounce and more conversions in this infographic.
Here’s what made their list:
- Bad navigation
- Too many ads
- Bad content structure
- Obtrusive use of audio and video
- The registration requirement
- Boring content and design
- Poor legibility
- Lack of frequency
What makes someone leave a website?
Attracting a potential customer is hard enough. Grabbing their interest and retaining them is even more difficult. It’s important to design your site so that user frustration is kept to a minimum, thereby maximizing customer retention. Below are some examples of what not to do when designing your website.
- Bad navigation
Noting frustrates a website visitor more than a website that’s hard to navigate.
What not to do: Don’t provide visual elements that aren’t clear in defining where the user is and what they’re supposed to do next.
How to fix it: Your website navigation should be logical. Intuitive and easy to understand. Try grouping navigation element in a central area. For larger websites try adding a sitemap.
2. Too many ads
Suffocating your victor with ads that pop, flash and fill the entire browser will only serve to enrage them.
What not to do: As a general rule, ads shouldn’t be the first thing that your visitor sees. Try not to cover up the content that attracted your visitor in the first place. Avoid ads that take up more real estate than your content.
How to fix it: Running ads on your website can be a perfectly legitimate way to monetize. However, in order to maximize your retention rate (and lower your bounce rate) be tasteful and discreet in your approach to displaying ads.
3. Bad content structure
A bad content structure can destroy your conversion and retention rates. Make your content (especially your contact info) easy to find. It’s estimated that as many as 50% of sales are lost because potential customers can’t find what they’re looking for.
What not to do: Don’t complicate things by distributing your content across multiple pages that could easily be communicated on one page. Don’t forget to include introductory content.
How to fix it: Don’t have visitors fish around for the content they’re looking for. Group similar content in a clear, concise manner. Consider using bold headings in addition to highlighting certain keywords that visitor may be searching for.
4. Obtrusive use of audio and video
Most people value their ability to choose what content to absorb. Having video or audio that loads automatically can potentially drive visitors away.
What not to do: Avoid using videos that automatically stream and intrude on the visitors browsing experience.
How to fix it: Give users the option of viewing video or audio content – don’t force them. If you do choose to play a video automatically, make sure there are clear exits. Sometimes a simple paragraph can just as easily convey the content of a video. Test a see what works best for you.
5. The Registration requirement
Barriers, such as forced-registration, may ultimately cause the visitor to go elsewhere for what they’re looking for.
What not to do: Avoid excessive use of pop-ups that require visitors to register before they can see the content.
How to fix it: Avoid putting up barriers between you and your visitors. If a visitor must register to interact with your site, try giving them a taste of what they’re signing up for. Offer a preview or a demo.
6. Boring content, Boring design
Data suggests that 40% of visitor don’t return to a website after having a negative experience.
What not to do: Don’t intentionally make your website as bland.
How to fix it: Minimalistic websites can be very effective and beautiful if done correctly. Consider ways to enhance interactivity with your visitors. Examples of good engagement catalysts are blogs, forums and special features. These need to be updated on a regular basis.
7. Poor legibility
Bad typography choices, colours and excessive typos all contribute to poor legibility – and ultimately the poor user experience.
What not to do: Don’t use typefaces that are unnecessarily elaborate. Excessive use of bright fluorescent colours can be distracting.
How to fix it: If it’s within your budget, hire a designer. The colour palate, the typeface and the general tone of your website can have an enormous impact on conversation and customer retention.
8. Lack of frequency
You may have found the right balance of interactivity, design and content construction – those are all good things. But you also need to keep your site fresh with new content.
What not to do: Don’t forget to update content frequently and don’t use the “under construction” cliché.
How to fix it: Try adding a blog to your site. Blogging is an easy way to keep your content fresh and updated. Not only will this boost the interest level in your site, but it will also contribute to higher rankings on search engines.
Check out the infographic for more detail:
Article courtesy of Red Website Design.
