There are a number of reasons why keeping your visitors on your site longer is a good thing. For one, the more time they spend on your website, the more likely you are to make a conversion, whether that comes in the form of a sale, a lead, or a newsletter sign-up. Secondly, site time is a driving factor in your search engine rankings. If users bounce off your site immediately, it could be a red flag to search algorithms and damage your SEO. And last but not least, you’ve probably put a lot of time and effort into your website design and content — so you should want people to see it!
However, Internet users can be finicky and fleeting unless you have something truly compelling to offer them. Here are five easy tips for keeping your visitors on your site longer so that you can show off all of your hard work.
- Video Content: Studies show that many users prefer a visual format, as clearly evidenced by the fact that online video view counts now exceed 50 billion per month. Add something for your visitors to watch and keep them engaged.
- Aesthetics: Good looks go a long way in attracting clicks and eyeballs. If you don’t have the eye for it, hire a professional web designer to make your pages as pleasing visually as they are in content.
- Prioritize: What’s the first thing that visitors see when they enter your site? Make it the most important, but don’t clutter the page. Find a way to draw users in gradually so that they can explore your site in depth.
- Internal Links: Guide your readers from one page to the next by incorporating internal links to related topic material. Soon enough, they’ll be working their way through all of your best material.
- Easy Reading: Avoid large blocks of text. Consider using bullets or numbered lists to make your articles or posts easier and more compelling to read. Who can resist a good countdown?
Keeping your visitors on your site longer is in many ways the ultimate goal. It’s a testament to the quality of your website and the content within it. Do what you can to keep the user on the other end in mind when you create and design your site for a great experience all around.
