Do you care about your bounce rate?
Do you care about your reader’s happiness on your site?
Do you realize they are the same question?
Many people don’t care about their bounce rate. Bloggers are more often than not content to be concerned with page views and subscriber counts.
However, by lowering your bounce rate, you will be increasing your page views, follower counts, and SEO ranking.
This post will contain an action plan for ensuring your bounce rate decreases and the ability for search engines to find your site goes up.
What Does Bounce Rate Mean?
The term is called “bounce rate” since it refers to how quickly your readers will bounce off, or leave, your blog.
Why is a Low Bounce Rate Important?
It actually refers to a reader’s happiness on your site. If a reader is unhappy, he or she will leave and go to another site.
This tells Google and other search engines that you do not have a valuable blog. Search engines will bury your it. They won’t want their users to find sites that aren’t quality.
This post will explain how to keep your readers on your site longer. This in turn will enable you to get more visitors found through search engines, permanent readers, and ultimately followers.
Action Plan for Lowering Your Bounce Rate
This post is taking a before and after approach. Before you start implementing the tips in this article, you should know what your current bounce rate is.
This will enable you to know if the tips are working and your bounce rate is decreasing.
Step 1: Go to Alexa.com, and put in your website.
Step 2: Record your current bounce rate and readers’ time on your site.
By looking at the screenshot, you can see my Alexa.com statistics.
Daily Pageviews Per Visitor: Ideally, that number will be 2.0 or higher. You want your reader to leave from a different page or post on your site.
You do not want them to “bounce” to another site from the first page they viewed. If that number is 2.0 or higher, search engines are convinced you do have a quality site, and your blog will rise in the search engine ranks.
Daily Time on Site: You want your readers to be so engaged, the average reader’s time on your site will increase.
Write down both numbers, so you can tell if your bounce rate is decreasing, and your SEO is improving. If both those numbers rise, your bounce rate falls, and your SEO goes up.
[bctt tweet=”Search engines will be able to find your blog if your bounce rate drops.”]
How to Lower Your Bounce Rate
- Learn the names of your readers. Many readers have interesting blog names. However, if you can learn their first name, and refer to them by their name, they will feel a connection. I want a rapport with my students, so I learn their names. You want a rapport with your readers, so they feel a connection. Blogging is about connections. If they feel a connection, they might be more likely to stay longer on your site.
- Insert a video into your blog posts. Not only will it help you inform your reader, but it will take them a while to watch a video, and they will stay on your site longer.
- Make your blog easy on the eyes. Don’t have colors so unsightly people will want to leave right away. Don’t have a font-size so small, readers will be unable to stay and read your content even if they wanted to.
- Have a post longer than 1,000 words. According to elanblogstudio.com, posts longer than 1,000 words are better for SEO. Also, it will keep your reader on your site longer since it will take your reader longer to read the article. Research shows readers are so impressed with longer articles, they are more likely to share them.
- Have a search bar. Readers will definitely leave your site from a second post or page if they can find it. A search bar enables them to do that.
- A Categories or Tags cloud in your sidebar. Make it easy for readers to leave from a second page by having your Categories or Tags in view for them to click on. (If you look at my right sidebar, you will see that I have a Tags cloud.)
- Have a Call to Action for readers to answer when they are done reading your article. Answering it will keep them on your site longer.
- Embed links to other articles on your blog. You can embed up to 100 without Google getting wise to you! You want to entice readers to click those backlinks to leave from another page or post on your blog. Inserting hyperlinks to your older articles ensures this if you click “open in new window” when you insert the link.
- Have photos, infographics, or screenshots. It will take your reader so long to scroll past these, especially on a mobile device, they will stay on your site longer. Also, while scrolling past those graphics, they may decide to put their Email in the “Subscribe” box.
- Subscribe to the 60-thenew40.com/building-blocks blog. Every Friday Kathleen, the admin blogger, has a unique linky party. It is designed with the dual intention of increasing SEO by lowering your Alexa score as well as the usual networking opportunities that linky parties bring.
The mandate of the linky party is clear. You must leave the post clicked on at the party from a second page on the site, and you must spend at least 30 seconds on each page or post while you are there. This increases both numbers at Alexa– readers are leaving from a second page on the site and spending at least a minute on your blog.
11. Have a Related Posts section. If readers see an article to offer them more information on your topic, they may click on it bringing them to a second post on your blog.
12. Reduce ads. Although they function with the intention of putting money in your pocket, ads are designed to make your reader leave your site.
13. Reduce external links to other people’s sites. Like with advertisements, external links increase the chances of your visitors leaving your site and going to other sites.
14. Have strong content and mechanics. 450 million blogs exist. If you don’t care about your content and mechanics, your reader will leave your site and find a blogger who does.
15. Have a linky party. When your visitors click the link, they are going to another page on your site.
In conclusion, the success of your blog is determined by your Alexa ranking. Even if that doesn’t matter to you today, it might in the future.
Also, it is important to consider all aspects of your reader’s experience. Following these tips is win-win-win. Your bounce rate goes down, your SEO ranking goes up, and your reader is so much happier, he or she is spending more time at your blog.
Despite the headline, there is one tip for lowering your bounce rate– keep your readers at your site longer. This post was designed to help you do this.
Readers, please share, so other bloggers and site creators know how to increase their search engine traffic.
What do you do to increase your SEO rankings? I look forward to your views.
Related Posts:
How to Easily Get Your Blog Found on Google
7 Warning Signs that Google Can’t Find You
How to Increase Blog Traffic Like an SEO Expert
12 Best Tricks to Get More Eyeballs on Your Old Posts
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J, Very helpful post.
I’m sure you and bbnewsab will help with improving my site.
c
Charles Rogers recently posted…I’m a Time Traveler from The Twentieth Century – Years Forty & Forty-one
I’m going to start work on that this Thursday. Hoping to talk to you the following Thursday.
J
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Janice, I really feel guilty to be consuming all your knowledge for free! You’ve taught me so much that has improved my blog.
Good to know I was already doing something right- I try to use my commenters’ names.
Your BBFF
Melinda
Melinda recently posted…Jeffery’s journey
Hi,
I miss you. Feels like I haven’t seen you in days. How is your week going?
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Hey Janice, I’m doing so so, thanks. I miss ya too. Hopefully soon I’ll be back in the swing of things again.
Your BBFF, Melinda
Melinda recently posted…Charity Chair
I love reading your posts because they are so helpful! Thank you so much for all that you do!
Hi Denise!
What kind words! Thank you!
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
You hit it out of the park again. I will echo Melinda ,Denise and Charles. Thank you for always being so helpful and ALWAYS providing such useful information. I am sure lots of people will be hiring you to do blog critiques for them. You are the blogging Guru.
You are sweet. Thank you!
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Hi Janice
I would be interested to see the source of your argument that bounce rate affects your Google ranking.
My short amount of research would indicate that many experts disagree with this statement, and Google actually denies taking bounce rate into account at all because it is so easily manipulated and is not a reliable indicator of website quality (some people find what they need on a single page).
I don’t think bounce rate is a measure of a person’s “happiness”. I bounce off sites all the time – not because I’m “unhappy” but because I’ve either skimmed the text and got what I needed, or I’ve come to the wrong place. Sometimes I’m just trying to find something that takes 5 seconds like a social media button or to copy a link so I can share it.
It is probably obvious by this comment that my own bounce rate is high, and always has been. It is what happens when you have a strong social media presence and new readers click through to ‘check you out’. I am happy to attract window shoppers knowing a percentage do come inside.
And search engines find me just fine. It’s a hefty percentage of my traffic.
Katie
Katie Paul recently posted…Bruises You Can’t See
Hi Katie,
Thank you for reading what I wrote and writing me. I cited my sources in the article. Here are three of them once again.
60-thenew40.com/
elanblogstudio.com
syedbalkhi.com
The author of the first one commented after you and elaborated on some of this information. I have a guest author writing an SEO article who said he’d be happy to explain the connection between bounce rate and search engine rankings in his post. Thank you for the inspiration.
It is great to hear about your success with your blog. You know how much I love your Pinterest articles. Did you see my graphic? Totally your influence with the colors bleeding through… Nice to hear from you.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
These are such helpful hints! I was just asking a fellow blogger friend about how to lower your bounce rate. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer recently posted…#PaperTowns Blu-Ray/DVD Drops Oct. 20th PLUS Giveaway
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the nice compliments. I’m glad you found the article helpful.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Janice I agree with #4 in some ways, but in others, I think that posts that are too long get skimmed and/or left. Many of us are on limited time to spend reading blogs. Also I will add that I notice that when a blogger has to many pictures and/or ads on their pages, certain blog posts take too long to load and that can send readers off to a quicker read. 🙂
ps Still filling in my name, etc, here.
Hi Debby,
1. Please write back with your new site. I wanted to sign up again if needed.
2. I have been trying to reach the CommentLuv people about it, so far unsuccessfully–hard to reach a human when you self host.
3. I haven’t seen or experienced slow loading time, but I have heard that occurs.
Thanks for writing, and again your support promoting my writing across the Internet. You’ve been a good friend.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
All of these are great suggestions! I think having a good About page and using it to guide readers to other important pages or posts also reduces your bounce rate. Thanks for sharing!
Cristina recently posted…How to grow your blog with Pinterest
Hi Cristina,
Thanks for your great article. I used it as reference.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Hi Cristina,
I am now following your blog.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Great breakdown on bounce rate! Pinning this. Visiting from Small Victories Sunday Linkup.
Kimberly H. Smith recently posted…Rigged Recipes Linky Party #4 with Features
Hi,
Thank you for pinning my cart full of balls! I’m glad you liked my graphic and article.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Thanks for the tips and link party. I am curious though: I’ve heard it’s best to have links that I share within a post to NOT open in a separate tab. Doing so increases number of page views. However, now I hear that having one of my links open in the same page reduces bounce rate. I hope this question makes sense. What do you suggest?
Leilani recently posted…Zombies in Dirt Snack Pack Pudding Cups
Hi Leilani,
I have a guest author preparing a post on SEO. I sent him your questions, so he can address the in his post. Thanks for the inspiration.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Visiting from the Inspire Me Monday linkup. So much good information! Shows me how little I know compared to what I think I know. *lol* But that’s a good thing!
LuAnn Braley recently posted…Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst – #review #giveaway
Hi LuAnn,
Thank you for the compliments on my article. I am so excited to have you as a new reader!
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Thank you for this helpful info. I pinned it to re-read.
Pamela Shank recently posted…EARLY HALLOWEEN FUN WITH THE GRANDKIDS
Hi Pamela,
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the balls I used. Thanks for pinning my graphic. I’m glad you found the tips helpful.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Janice thank you for this helpful information. I also appreciate your reference to Fridays Blog Booster Party where we have an emphasis on leaving a bloggers site from a second page of their site. We talk about reducing the Bounce rate.
Even if the actual bounce rate may not be important to ranking, the connected analytics of time on site, and the number of pages visited is very influential. The bounce rate is like a summing up of these two statistics. Not just on Google but as you have demonstrated on Alexa rankings.
Google measures the time on a page by registering when a person lands, not when they leave. The only way they know when you leave is if you go to another page. They measure the time in between the two landings.
As you have said Janice, this makes the Bounce rate an important measure.
Kathleen
Kathleen recently posted…Why Alexa Ranking is Important
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you so much for these comments. I appreciate your clarification of some of these points. You wrote a great article; I found it so helpful that I was able to use it as a resource. Thank you again.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Once again, Janice, you have left me with something to think about. I already put videos in my blog, but I didn’t realize it would help my bounce rate. Of course that makes perfect sense. Pinning!
Heaven recently posted…DIY Halloween Ghost Boogers from Homemade Fruit Snacks
Hi Heaven,
So nice to hear from you, and what kind words! I’m glad you liked my picture of the balls. I took it in the P.E. area at my school. I thought it worked with this topic about a bounce rate. Thanks for pinning and writing me. I’m glad you liked the article.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…How to Get Tremendous Blog Traffic with Instagram
Hey Janice, I’m doing so so, thanks. I miss ya too. Hopefully soon I’ll be back in the swing of things again.
Your BBFF, Melinda
Melinda recently posted…Charity Chair
This is my first visit to your site. (I found you at the SITS Girls link-up), and I’m glad I found you! This is so helpful!
Jessica recently posted…Amazing Paleo Apple Crisp with Vanilla Caramel Sauce
This is great information. And easy to understand. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with our link up.
Leigh Powell Hines recently posted…#OutaboutNC: Discover North Carolina’s Outer Banks
All great tips. The longer a reader stays on your blog page, the better! Thanks for sharing.
Keisha recently posted…3 Important Life Lessons I Learned From An Unlikely Friendship
Hi Keisha,
It’s been a while! Thank you for writing me. I am glad you liked my article. Nice to see you again.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…Inspire Me Monday Linky Party #56
Great tips. I have really got to keep working on getting my bounce rate down.
Sarah Fuller recently posted…15 Terrific Southern Gifts Under $20
Hi Sarah,
Nice to meet you! Thank you so much for your kind words about my post. Since I wrote it, I keep creatively trying to think of ways to inspire people to go to a second page or post on my site before they leave, LOL. Thanks for writing.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…Inspire Me Monday Linky Party #56
Hi Janice, Maria Perez from Networking Bloggers sent me the link. Good to see this. I missed it the first time – wasn’t even in the same universe! You have helped pull me from the blogging dark ages into the 2017s. All of this post would have been Greek to me at the time you wrote it. Now, thanks to your help, and the help of Daniel, my web developer and others I’m caught up to speed. Just so you know I had a brief discussion with Briany Versatility (?) about how helpful your site is. Thanks again, my friend. Your work is awesome. I tweeted this. 🙂
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for letting me know where you found the post. I always wonder. I put the backlink in a recent article. Maybe she found it there.
Yes, I do know Brainy ? Versatility. Thank you both for the kind words about my blog. Flattery will get you everywhere, LOL! Seriously, thank you for reading what I wrote and the kind words about my blog. I am overjoyed that people find it helpful. Thank you for writing to let me know.
Janice
Janice Wald recently posted…This Is How to Improve Your Site Traffic, 10 Amazing SEO Techniques