By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-10-21 11:00:36 | Word Count: 664
Conversion rate is one of the most important metrics that defines the bottom line of a business. Responsible ecommerce businesses have designed an effective website, worked diligently to improve their rankings through a series of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) steps and have seen their visitor counts rise. However, they might have noticed that their conversion rates are not meeting expectations. The underlying problem, how to increase conversion rates, can be addressed in a variety of ways, but many find that by focusing on conversion optimization and its related components, design, testing and content, increasing conversion rates is feasible.
Conversion Optimization β no website is ever perfect in relation to conversions β¦ you can always convert more. Conversion Optimization involves the close monitoring of the human interaction with a website and continual testing or split-testing to improve the percentage of visitors that actually convert to sales. This is an ongoing process as trends change. Fortunately, the use of analytical software like Google Analytics makes it possible to notice and follow these trends in virtual real time.
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Many business owners erroneously believe that optimizing a website to obtain top ranking results with the major search engines is all that is required to ensure successful conversions. While it is true that the number of visitors a website has is often a determining factor in the number of successful conversions, it should not be considered the only factor. In fact, the overall design and layout of a site, as well as its content, plays an even bigger role in converting a visitor. Websites that are cluttered or confusing will often see most visitors leave their site within 8 seconds. Studies show that the typical website has less than 8 seconds to convince a visitor to stay. Obviously, the design of a site is of paramount importance.
Conversion Rates can be continually enhanced or optimized by carefully following analytics and responding to the data with tweaks and adjustments to the landing pages to drive the call to action step(s). The web pages need to gain immediate engagement by the visitor, be clear in terms of value offered and lead with a clear simple call-to-action. Properly implemented, these steps will increase conversion rates.
Another important element would be to track all steps of a shopping cart checkout to see where users might be leaving the sale process. By identifying the source of exits, you will be able to optimize those specific pages and elements within that page much more efficiently. Thus, implementing a one page checkout solution or not requiring shoppers to sign up for an account can increase the conversion rate as much as 50%.
Because of the wide number of processes involved in conversion optimization, many successful online entrepreneurs have turned to Internet Marketing Firms to assist them with the process. A qualified firm will understand how all of the components of SEO and conversion optimization work together to create a site which experiences not only increased traffic but increased conversions.
Optimum7 has created a specific conversion optimization program. Because we understand the interplay between conversions and SEO, conversion optimization is considered an integral part of our SEO process. If your goal isnβt simply increased conversion rates, but maximum conversion rates, implementing a process of conversion optimization is the only course of action you should take.
If you are looking to increase your conversion rates and take your Ecommerce to the next level, contact us today for a free initial consultation. You can call us at 1-800-736-9618.
