Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Actual for You - How Do I Improve My Web Site Conversion Rate? Part 2
IT sales calls can be handled with ease if you prepare adequately ahead of time. First, do your background research and get a sense of the urgency of the situation. Then you will be able to increase your odds of closing IT sales by finding out what your clients' biggest needs are. In this article, you'll learn why you need to be the solution to the problem.IT Sales Requires Clients to Be in PainPin them down and get them to identify what their three biggest computer problems are. There’s a good chance they’re not going to be able to narrow it down to just three, but at least you get them thinking and talking. The more information you get on what they perceive to be their computer problems, the more effectively you can craft your pitch as the solution.Do Some SleuthingNow that sounds easier said than done. How do you become the solution to their biggest problem? You need to know what that problem is. Ask the questions to get a more logical, reasonable answer
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consis
Having a Myspace account is cool on its own but what is even better is the fact that you are able to personalize the account so it best suites you. Such accounts are great to have as a lot of people see it as a way to express themselves freely, but at the same time it is confidential. A Myspace is for anyone to have, if you have the time to create one then do so. But make sure you have the time because it is a hard decision choosing the Myspace background and layouts that you want.There are so many different Myspace backgrounds to choose from, there are pictures like flags, popular brand names, animals, celebrities and much more. Or you can even just get effects like different patterns and colors that will look great on your account and tell a lot about the kind of person you are. Myspace backgrounds include topics like baby, cute, Disney, cartoons, friends, holiday, money, music, stars, flashy, colors and more. You just have a look at them all and decide which you like best.
Does it help to track visitor behavior on websites through software?
Yes is the simple answer. No debate is required but I’ll offer a simple explanation. If you don’t measure, how do you expect to know what to improve? You can guess and hope you get it right, but if you have effective tracking software, then you simply have facts in front of you.
Effective measurement is more than simply having good software though; it’s analyzing why things happen. One thing we measure is bounce, the number of people arriving at one page and then leaving without doing anything. The lower the bounce rate the better, because it means people are using the site more effectively.
One perfect example comes from a recent client. She had two pages with different articles on her site with exactly the same navigation left and centre. Most articles had a bounce rate of about 53%, but one had a better bounce of about 50% and another had a much worse bounce of around 90%. We looked at both and found that the one with the 50% bounce was much more relevant to the reader arriving at the page. It had better and more relevant links at the bottom of the article than the one with 90%. We concluded that by being relevant on the poor page in the same way, the bounce rate would be reduced. We would simply not have known that this was occurring at all without tracking software. So yes, it most definitely helps to track visitor behavior.
Question 2
What measurement software tools would you recommend?
We use IRIS Metrics. However apart from IRIS, I would also recommend browser-based software such as HitBox, WebTrends Live, RedSheriff, and Omniture. Generally, you get what you pay for. And while these systems are not cheap, they do provide the level of detail required to run an effective web campaign.
People have asked me if it’s possible to use webalizer (free log software) to run an effective web measurement campaign. While it’s possible to get a lot of useful information from free and cheap systems, you don’t get path tracking, bounce rates, repeat visitor information, accurate visitor counts, accurate page counts and loads more information which is critical if you want to base business decisions on your measurements.
Question 3.
What is the difference between log-based and browser-based measurement?
Tracking tools that rely on server-based measurement are typically programs that are installed on your web server (by your ISP if your site is hosted) or installed locally on your PC using the log files taken from the server. Server-based measurement programs measure activity based on the text files held on the web server (referred to as log files).
The way that browser-based measurement (or ASP measurement) works is that information from each browser that visits your website is recorded, usually in a database, and then the data is manipulated into reports you can read. Typically, these services ask you to paste some JavaScript code into your web pages. A cookie is used to determine which user is accessing the site. This is then tracked on a remote server and you log in to view the reports.
I recommend the use of ASP measurement because it only measures how people using a web browser use your website.
The log files record everything visiting your pages. They need a number of added filters to stop email harvesters, search engines and a variety of other software generated crawlers or bots from being counted as ‘visitors’; without them, you can get seriously skewed results. Server access is often required to get log file filtering right; otherwise, you’re relying on your ISP to report your tracking correctly. The log files for one of our clients had 10 times as many page counts and visits recorded than shown by using an ASP. That’s a 1000% error!
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consist
Convenience is something you need in your business; everything can be easy when you have the correct services to use. Business printing is another way to get your advertising project outsourced; online printers can easily cater to your needs.From an economical standpoint, outsourcing the work for advertisement material production is the way to go. With being very convenient compared to the traditional way to get your prints, the online world has more advantages on printing services. The correct printing company can be your best assets in producing your business printing needs.In the selection of preference is the main hurdle in your business printing needs, but with the online world having plenty of competition, you can surely benefit from them. With the comfort of your desktop, you can easily achieve better exposure of your business, more clients, and especially more revenue.Some of the sites can also provide you with instant solutions and dedicate their staff to p
Question 2
What measurement software tools would you recommend?
We use IRIS Metrics. However apart from IRIS, I would also recommend browser-based software such as HitBox, WebTrends Live, RedSheriff, and Omniture. Generally, you get what you pay for. And while these systems are not cheap, they do provide the level of detail required to run an effective web campaign.
People have asked me if it’s possible to use webalizer (free log software) to run an effective web measurement campaign. While it’s possible to get a lot of useful information from free and cheap systems, you don’t get path tracking, bounce rates, repeat visitor information, accurate visitor counts, accurate page counts and loads more information which is critical if you want to base business decisions on your measurements.
Question 3.
What is the difference between log-based and browser-based measurement?
Tracking tools that rely on server-based measurement are typically programs that are installed on your web server (by your ISP if your site is hosted) or installed locally on your PC using the log files taken from the server. Server-based measurement programs measure activity based on the text files held on the web server (referred to as log files).
The way that browser-based measurement (or ASP measurement) works is that information from each browser that visits your website is recorded, usually in a database, and then the data is manipulated into reports you can read. Typically, these services ask you to paste some JavaScript code into your web pages. A cookie is used to determine which user is accessing the site. This is then tracked on a remote server and you log in to view the reports.
I recommend the use of ASP measurement because it only measures how people using a web browser use your website.
The log files record everything visiting your pages. They need a number of added filters to stop email harvesters, search engines and a variety of other software generated crawlers or bots from being counted as ‘visitors’; without them, you can get seriously skewed results. Server access is often required to get log file filtering right; otherwise, you’re relying on your ISP to report your tracking correctly. The log files for one of our clients had 10 times as many page counts and visits recorded than shown by using an ASP. That’s a 1000% error!
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consis
From kids to the old, everybody searches and search engines provide search tips to help searchers get more relevant result.But how many of those search tips are you using? There are some tips very useful especially for Internet marketers and web masters. I've summarized those tips and explained how those search tips can be helpful for Internet Marketers in this article.Although I'm writing this article for Internet Marketers, the usage of these tips applies are not restricted only for them.Suppose you want to write a web page, find or create a web site about 'Internet Marketing Blog.' You may want to know or should know :-) what's going on about 'Internet Marketing Blog' on the net. So, you'll open your favorite search engine, type internet marketing blog and hit enter.What do you get?You'll have search engine result pages (SERPs) that includes all three terms plus those includes only two of them or one of them. This is not what you wanted.
People have asked me if it’s possible to use webalizer (free log software) to run an effective web measurement campaign. While it’s possible to get a lot of useful information from free and cheap systems, you don’t get path tracking, bounce rates, repeat visitor information, accurate visitor counts, accurate page counts and loads more information which is critical if you want to base business decisions on your measurements.
Question 3.
What is the difference between log-based and browser-based measurement?
Tracking tools that rely on server-based measurement are typically programs that are installed on your web server (by your ISP if your site is hosted) or installed locally on your PC using the log files taken from the server. Server-based measurement programs measure activity based on the text files held on the web server (referred to as log files).
The way that browser-based measurement (or ASP measurement) works is that information from each browser that visits your website is recorded, usually in a database, and then the data is manipulated into reports you can read. Typically, these services ask you to paste some JavaScript code into your web pages. A cookie is used to determine which user is accessing the site. This is then tracked on a remote server and you log in to view the reports.
I recommend the use of ASP measurement because it only measures how people using a web browser use your website.
The log files record everything visiting your pages. They need a number of added filters to stop email harvesters, search engines and a variety of other software generated crawlers or bots from being counted as ‘visitors’; without them, you can get seriously skewed results. Server access is often required to get log file filtering right; otherwise, you’re relying on your ISP to report your tracking correctly. The log files for one of our clients had 10 times as many page counts and visits recorded than shown by using an ASP. That’s a 1000% error!
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consis
Most companies have only one chance to win, but leaders have two. If a leader misses an opportunity to attack itself, the company can often recover by copying the competitive move. But the leader must move rapidly before the attacker gets established.Many leaders refuse to block because their egos get in the way. Even worse, they knock the competitor’s development until it’s too late to save the situation.Blocking works well for a leader because of the nature of the battleground. Remember, the war takes place inside the mind of the prospect. It takes time for an attacker to make an impression in the mind. Usually, there’s time enough for the leader to cover.The U.S. automobile industry illustrates this principle well. Says John DeLorean in the book on a Clear Day You Can See General Motors: “Even though ford was superior to General Motors in product innovation during the time. I was with GM and Chrysler surpassed it in technical innovation, neither firm made substan
The way that browser-based measurement (or ASP measurement) works is that information from each browser that visits your website is recorded, usually in a database, and then the data is manipulated into reports you can read. Typically, these services ask you to paste some JavaScript code into your web pages. A cookie is used to determine which user is accessing the site. This is then tracked on a remote server and you log in to view the reports.
I recommend the use of ASP measurement because it only measures how people using a web browser use your website.
The log files record everything visiting your pages. They need a number of added filters to stop email harvesters, search engines and a variety of other software generated crawlers or bots from being counted as ‘visitors’; without them, you can get seriously skewed results. Server access is often required to get log file filtering right; otherwise, you’re relying on your ISP to report your tracking correctly. The log files for one of our clients had 10 times as many page counts and visits recorded than shown by using an ASP. That’s a 1000% error!
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consis
You will find the tips in this first section to be useful in saving money regardless of the specific returnable packaging you decide to use. Keep them in mind throughout your packaging purchases. These tips cover (but aren't limited to) plastic corrugated, thermoformed plastic trays and pallets, and other reusable products1. Consider using thinner plastic. The chances are good you will save money when you can reduce the thickness, regardless of which Returnable Packaging product you are using. Because of the advances in film structures, in many cases you’ll be able to increase the strength while reducing the thickness.2. Plan Ahead. Purchasing or committing to take an additional month or two of product will assure that you have product when you need it.3. Designate a freight carrier if you have an existing relationship with one. Your discounted rate with a carrier (Roadway, CCX, Old Dominion, etc) can have a drastic impact on your bottom line.4. Ask y
Question 4.
What is an average conversion rate?
This is a very good question and is the topic of serious debate. In other marketing industries they don’t guess. They have standards that everyone follows. It’s what’s needed in online marketing before any real answer can be given. Analytics companies, the big research companies, and digital media associations are going to have to come together to define these standards and then people are going to have to follow what is agreed before accurate numbers can be delivered consistently.
Currently, we’re in the process of trying to establish a worldwide benchmark with a number of other prominent people (The Web Analytics Association and the IAB to mention two) in the industry who also want to know the answer to this question. But meanwhile, here are some statistics we’ve gathered from different sources published both recently and over the last few years. I have figures for 3 types of websites: sales (e-commerce), lead generation, and subscription-based websites.
Generally, sales sites seem to range between a 0.5% and 8% with the average rate being 2.3% according to FireClick statistics published this year and figures published in 2003 by e-consultancy.com. In 2000, the average figure for sales conversion as published by shop.org was 1.8%. The high-end figures, I hasten to add, are the top e-tailers according to all sources. My own experience shows sites hitting between .5% and 5.3% so this seems to correlate with the published figures. Of course since there is no defined standard, these numbers have to be taken as a rule of thumb.
The only source we have for lead generation sites is e-consultancy.com. They quote 2-3% of users completing an optional or free registration process, with 5% being best in class. Our own experience again falls within the same ballpark.
Subscriptions to sale conversion is typically between 1 and 7% again the source is e-consultancy.com
We don’t have figures for visitor to subscription conversion, but our own experience with clients has been between 1 and 8%. Our own site has consistently hit 15% for 6 months though the traffic is pretty well targeted and our methods very well tested.
Question 5.
How do you go about consistently improving conversion?
This is the million dollar question. What it really boils down to is treating web marketing as a science. We do it by consistently measuring how people use a website. Over time you will learn what works and what doesn’t and stop wasting your time on the things that don’t work.
First we look at the technical aspect of the website. It’s amazing how many people overlook and ignore thousands of people who don’t use Windows XP with Internet Explorer at a screen resolution of 1024x768. First make sure that you develop something that works for everyone.
One of the next areas we look at is where the traffic comes from. It allows you to concentrate your efforts on your best chance of generating converting traffic. Then we get into reducing the average website bounce rate. The lower the average bounce, the higher the number of people surfing your website and seeing the value of your offer. The higher the number who see your offer, the better the chance of a sale. Checking bounce rates also usually brings up some juicy problems to be solved.
Then look at testing and improving copy and graphical content, running split tests and measuring bounce rates on copy or simply testing the click-through on links. We do much more, but the basic premise is this: test and measure, follow up with experimentation, and then with more testing and more measuring. Sounds like science class doesn’t it?
Summary
In part three of this series of articles we’ll be looking at where traffic arrives from and how that effects conversion, specific search engine queries, PPC issues and other general topics. To summarize, I am suggesting that if you begin to scientifically measure and improve your websites based on facts and findings, n
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.actual4u.com/article/79138/actual4u-How-Do-I-Improve-My-Web-Site-Conversion-Rate-Part-2.html">How Do I Improve My Web Site Conversion Rate? Part 2</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.actual4u.com/article/79138/actual4u-How-Do-I-Improve-My-Web-Site-Conversion-Rate-Part-2.html]How Do I Improve My Web Site Conversion Rate? Part 2[/url]
Related Articles:
Are Salespeople Becoming Obsolete?
SEO Optimization Does Not Have To Be Expensive
Bookmark it:
|