Analyzing your web traffic statistics can be an invaluable tool for a number of different reasons. But before you can make full use of this tool, you need to understand how to interpret the data.
Most web hosting companies will provide you with basic web traffic information that you then have to interpret and make pertinent use of. However, the data you receive from your host company can be overwhelming if you don't understand how to apply it to your particular business and website. Let's start by examining the most basic data - the average visitors to your site on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
These figures are the most accurate measure of your website's activity. It would appear on the surface that the more traffic you see recorded, the better you can assume your website is doing, but this is an inaccurate perception. You must also look at the behavior of your visitors once they come to your website to accurately gauge the effectiveness of your site.
There is often a great misconception about what is commonly known as "hits" and what is really effective, quality traffic to your site. Hits simply means the number of information requests received by the server. If you think about the fact that a hit can simply equate to the number of graphics per page, you will get an idea of how overblown the concept of hits can be. For example, if your homepage has 15 graphics on it, the server records this as 15 hits, when in reality we are talking about a single visitor checking out a single page on your site. As you can see, hits are not useful in analyzing your website traffic.
The more visitors that come to your website, the more accurate your interpretation will become. The greater the traffic is to your website, the more precise your analysis will be of overall trends in visitor behavior. The smaller the number of visitors, the more a few anomalous visitors can distort the analysis.
The aim is to use the web traffic statistics to figure out how well or how poorly your site is working for your visitors. One way to determine this is to find out how long on average your visitors spend on your site. If the time spent is relatively brief, it usually indicates an underlying problem. Then the challenge is to figure out what that problem is.
It could be that your keywords are directing the wrong type of visitors to your website, or that your graphics are confusing or intimidating, causing the visitor to exit rapidly. Use the knowledge of how much time visitors are spending on your site to pinpoint specific problems, and after you fix those problems, continue to use time spent as a gauge of how effective your fix has been.
Additionally, web traffic stats can help you determine effective and ineffective areas of your website. If you have a page that you believe is important, but visitors are exiting it rapidly, that page needs attention. You could, for example, consider improving the link to this page by making the link more noticeable and enticing, or you could improve the look of the page or the ease that your visitors can access the necessary information on that page.
If, on the other hand, you notice that visitors are spending a lot of time on pages that you think are less important, you might consider moving some of your sales copy and marketing focus to that particular page.
As you can see, these statistics will reveal vital information about the effectiveness of individual pages, and visitor habits and motivation. This is essential information to any successful Internet marketing campaign.
Your website undoubtedly has exit pages, such as a final order or contact form. This is a page you can expect your visitor to exit rapidly. However, not every visitor to your site is going to find exactly what he or she is looking for, so statistics may show you a number of different exit pages. This is normal unless you notice a exit trend on a particular page that is not intended as an exit page. In the case that a significant percentage of visitors are exiting your website on a page not designed for that purpose, you must closely examine that particular page to discern what the problem is. Once you pinpoint potential weaknesses on that page, minor modifications in content or graphic may have a significant impact on the keeping visitors moving through your site instead of exiting at the wrong page.
After you have analyzed your visitor statistics, it's time to turn to your keywords and phrases. Notice if particular keywords are directing a specific type of visitor to your site. The more targeted the visitor - meaning that they find what they are looking for on your site, and even better, fill out your contact form or make a purchase - the more valuable that keyword is.
However, if you find a large number of visitors are being directed - or should I say misdirected - to your site by a particular keyword or phrase, that keyword demands adjustment. Keywords are vital to bringing quality visitors to your site who are ready to do business with you. Close analysis of the keywords your visitors are using to find your site will give you a vital understanding of your visitor's needs and motivations.
Finally, if you notice that users are finding your website by typing in your company name, break open the champagne! It means you have achieved a significant level of brand recognition, and this is a sure sign of burgeoning success.
More Website Traffic links found here.
You can publish this article as long you keep the link live Get more search result for Analyzing Website Traffic
A landing page is used to capture people's details when... Read More
What is the most important skill you can possess as... Read More
GoDaddy made a calculated decision to nationally "brand" their name... Read More
I recently noticed that my friend's two-year-old, Conor, is getting... Read More
What the heck am I talking about?Let me tell you... Read More
starts when a web site is being planned... And is... Read More
No matter what business you are in there is a... Read More
Secret Number One: The Key Is A Niche MarketIdentifying a... Read More
Nothing and Everything!Tucked discreetly away on my modest marketing website... Read More
All online businesses are nothing more than lead capturing machines.... Read More
One of the reason why the concept of free stuff... Read More
The Internet is a powerful selling tool. Never before has... Read More
Once you have decided on your ideal business to create... Read More
So you've just sold another digital product; things are going... Read More
If you are anything like me, you spend a lot... Read More
Zig Ziglar the famous self help guru was once quoted... Read More
What is a Joint Venture?How can this online marketing and... Read More
The advent of the Internet has made this world an... Read More
Regardless of what you're trying to sell, you can't sell... Read More
I've been marketing for a long time now and I... Read More
Do you want to generate more profits from your online... Read More
'Hype' is now an often used slang word which is... Read More
Do you have marketing objectives for your Web site? With... Read More
Oh no... are people leaving your site without buying?Get used... Read More
After years of gut wrenching work and stress the home... Read More
Do you want to join the well known gurus like... Read More
There are many people every day jumping into the online... Read More
What is weird?, well in the 21st century it's getting... Read More
As a marketer you are engaged in a "War" with... Read More
So, you've created a Website to highlight your realty services... Read More
If you are new to the Internet Marketing arena, or... Read More
The Digital Object Identifier otherwise known as the DOI is... Read More
Some sites are perfect for the Christmas season - their... Read More
Are you considering working from home. I have been self-teaching... Read More
Often-overlooked commands can boost sales and project a more professional... Read More
I recently noticed that my friend's two-year-old, Conor, is getting... Read More
I started as an internet marketer, like I am sure... Read More
I've never been much of an automobile mechanic, but about... Read More
Online advertising traffic leaves when advertisers don't make it... Read More
Your web site's search engine rankings are determined in part... Read More
Do you own a web site that is continually failing... Read More
A back-end product is a product that you attempt to... Read More
I'd like to show you five secret strategies to extract... Read More
Internet marketing and public speaking? Not quite ham and eggs,... Read More
Thank you for stopping by part 3 of the article... Read More
In search of the coveted search engine traffic? Yes? Then... Read More
Copyright 2005 Michael Port & Associates LLCWould you rather be... Read More
Using limited time offers can spark a feeding frenzy that... Read More
SMS Marketing can be used to acquire customers, strengthen existing... Read More
Using Online Communities to Differentiate Your WebsiteAs a young girl... Read More
Have you ever been told to find your niche? In... Read More
Many people work for hours and hours, days and days... Read More
The concept of residual income or passive income is probably... Read More
Today I was checking out Michelle's A Small Victory. There... Read More
Like the Internet itself, online marketing resources such as blogs,... Read More
Building a home internet business on the web can seem... Read More
There are many people in the world who feel stuck... Read More
Viral Marketing is allowing people to giveaway and use your... Read More
So, you've created a Website to highlight your realty services... Read More
1 Planning:When starting your marketing strategy, it is wise to... Read More
I just got off the phone with Michael Fortin, one... Read More
The first thing I must say is it's a mine... Read More
There's a very lucrative "marketing formula" to targeting prospects on... Read More
Would you believe there are tens of thousands of people... Read More
This year, 2005, will see the demise of some well... Read More
If you're like me, you'd rather work smarter than harder.... Read More
Internet Marketing |