Reminder: What is the bounce rate?
Before we start on the reasons why people leave your website, let us take a moment to talk about the bounce rate. The bounce rate remains one of the most important statistics of your website. It is the percentage of visitors who visited and left your site without doing anything, like clicking a button or discovering another page.
A high bounce rate is problematic because it tells search engines like Google that your website did not meet expectations. Therefore, it can harm your indexing and your website's position in the search results. If the average time spent is low and your bounce rate is high, it is essential to understand and correct what makes your visitors run.
Why are your visitors not staying on your website?
Whether you are an experienced website maker or not, here is a little list of things that can harm the user experience. A website often has only a few seconds to make a good first impression.
The loading time is too long
Do you remember how much time was needed to connect to the internet back in the day? Loading times have decreased a lot since then. Nowadays, people only tolerate a few seconds of loading time before leaving a website.
It is possible to use tools to check the loading time of our websites. If the loading time is high, you can try to decrease the weight of web pages by removing redundant components or optimizing pictures using lighter file formats. Do you really need dozen of videos or photos on your website homepage?
Your website is not optimized for all devices
Did you know that an increasing number of people only use their smartphones to browse the internet? If you look at your statistics, you might notice that your website is mainly visited by people who use mobile devices.
Consequently, it is essential to have a website optimized for all devices, more precisely, a responsive site. It must be as easy to find information with a smartphone as with a computer. If you have created a website with WebSelf, you can adjust the mobile version by clicking on the smartphone icon on the builder page. Keep in mind that the available space is narrower on a smaller screen.
Your website does not look credible
No one is safe from fraud or malware. Consequently, people must be careful and avoid suspicious websites. If your website does not have a professional look, it will likely harm your credibility, and your visitors will be more inclined to leave it instead of staying on it.
What can you do to improve your website's credibility? First, ensure to have an SSL connection, in other words, a site that starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP. Then, think about having a representative and short domain name. Finally, create a complete website by adding an about us page and testimonials from past customers while avoiding spelling and grammar mistakes. Some terms of use and policies can also help.
Your visitors do not find what they are looking for
Google has become the most important search engine because it indexes results not by alphabetical order but by relevancy. If your website appears in search results, it is because it has the potential to meet a need or answer a question.
If your visitor discovers your website and cannot easily find what they are looking for, they will check elsewhere. Since the homepage is often the first page people see, it must include a summary of your website content. Moreover, we should be able to browse your site's different pages and sections easily.
Your visitors feel harassed on your website
If you want people to stay on your website, you must ensure that they have an enjoyable experience from start to finish. However, several websites seem to forget this when they add automatic music or thousands of pop-ups when someone clicks on their site. Would you like to be bombed with offers as soon as you put a foot in a store?
It is vital to mention that simplicity and a minimalist design remain important trends of 2023. Consequently, let your site and your visitors breath a little.
In conclusion, it is not the end of the world if your bounce rate is high. By making a few changes, you should be able to convince your visitors to stay on your site and encourage them to discover the other pages and even make a purchase. For additional tips on this topic, look at our blog article on improving your website navigation. Good luck!