Bounce rate at 70% What Should I Change

Discussion in 'Websites' started by Sickthing, Mar 4, 2011.

  1. #1
    Most of my traffic is from search engines which makes me happy. :)

    But my bounce rate is too high at 70%.

    Now I know one thing I need to correct. I recently changed my theme (WP) and I need to make category and archive page show the extract instead of full post. I will fix that soon. It wasn't an issue in my old theme though.

    My SE traffic accounts for 75% of traffic. My keyword targeting seems to be accurate. I've got a related pages plug in and that seemed to help get it down when I added that but it is still too high.

    Now if 50% of those bounces were due to my eBook i'm advertising near the top of the page, I'd be happy. :) But it isn't.

    I've been struggling with it for a while. Does SE traffic tend to have a higher bounce rate? Mine does, my referring traffic has a much lower bounce rate of around 50%. Still too high.

    http://cebuexperience.com

    Thanks for any help....
     
    Sickthing, Mar 4, 2011 IP
  2. mjewel

    mjewel Prominent Member

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    #2
    You are running adsense - and that will reduce your CTR as ads are clicked. Your layout looks too much like a template - not a magazine. At first glance, the site doesn't convey the feeling that it is an authority site about expat living.
     
    mjewel, Mar 5, 2011 IP
  3. Sickthing

    Sickthing Peon

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    #3
    Thanks for the feedback.

    Any suggestions on how to convey that authority feeling? Would a different header picture be a good place to stop. I'll need to hire someone even it if is from fiver. :) Then what graphics do I give him ;)

    thanks again... you gave me something to think about.

    I had a magazine theme up before but it wasn't Flexible enough for a non coder to make look decent.

    I wish 50% of my viewers were clicking on AdSense. :)
     
    Sickthing, Mar 5, 2011 IP
  4. SEOJJ

    SEOJJ Peon

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    #4
    Hmmm... I have been thinking of moving there. I did bookmark your blog!
     
    SEOJJ, Mar 6, 2011 IP
  5. ForgottenCreature

    ForgottenCreature Notable Member

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    #5
    That means users aren't spending time on your blog, they're reading and leaving - you need to find ways to interest them, and make them divulge into more content - which means, more time spent, and less of a bounce rate.
     
    ForgottenCreature, Mar 6, 2011 IP
  6. Sickthing

    Sickthing Peon

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    #6
    haha, well, I wasn't looking for traffic but I'll take it where I can get it!

    Hope you find what your looking for. I tend to paint a more balanced picture than many. Some are all negative, some are all positive.

    One awesome thing about IM is that it follows you. It was another IMer that suggested the idea to me about 10 years ago. I thought he was nuts. That was before I met some Filipina. :)
     
    Sickthing, Mar 6, 2011 IP
  7. Sickthing

    Sickthing Peon

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    #7
    Thanks, but I know what it means but it really isn't time. Time on site is pretty good. Once someone clicks on the first link they tend to stay for a significant time.

    Any suggestions on how I can get them to make that first click. That's what I need.

    I've been able to get it down a little bit in the last couple of days but I need to get it down a LOT more.

    I'm thinking of putting a gallery of pretty girls next to the eBook advert. That will likely increase clicks but it might also reduce sales. :)
     
    Sickthing, Mar 6, 2011 IP