How many seconds does the average internet user spend on the home page of a site? Probably a few seconds. In those few seconds, you’ll have to grab all the eyeballs you can get. The very first impression is everything. Seasoned web surfers tend to evaluate your website within 5 seconds based on the 5 key factors outlined in this article.
1. Your Site’s Speed
Not everyone has the fastest broadband connection at work or at home. You have to ensure that your site is light enough to load fast no matter what kind of connectivity is used. If your page takes over 10 seconds to load, users will get frustrated and abandon your web site altogether. Typical surfers plan to explore several pages in your site and if site loading itself puts them back by 10 seconds, then your inner pages have no hope of being viewed
2. Your Site’s Credibility
People who look for information or for goods online are concerned about the credibility of their source. For information, they want the best from an expert. When it comes to goods, they will give out their credit card information only to a company that seems to be a solid professional business. Make sure that you list credible sources for your information and provide all the security measures and credibility information for your online shopping portal.
3. Your Site’s Relevancy
Use keywords and keyword phrases that are relevant to your business. Don’t add a bunch of keywords to your search engine matrix just to earn traffic, if you want people to visit your site. Time is precious and your users won’t thank you for using random keywords to rank your site high. People want what they’re looking for and leading them to your site unethically will harm your site’s relevancy.
4. Your Site’s Usability
How usable is your site? Is it easily navigable, does it provide information under clearly named tabs, or do users have to look everywhere for the most basic information? Don’t scatter banners, text and links all over your home page without any logical hierarchy or grouping. All this will only confuse your user. Keep your site and its content organized and simple. Do a usability test of your site – hire a professional to do this if you must.
5. Your Site’s Currency
How current is the information on your site? If your web site design and content are out of date, it’s likely your business won’t do well. Check if your site lists ‘recent news’ that was put up in 2004. If you don’t have the time bandwidth to adjust your site every now and then, incorporate direct RSS feeds for news items. This will keep it current. Update your products, pricing and other information every week. It takes dedication and hard work to keep a site current but you will benefit in the long run by doing it. Keep your site current and earn your users’ respect.
Saksham, who is a part time blogger, likes to update people about the latest coupons and discounts. He regularly contributes at his coupons blog where he shares Omnis network promotional codes and Hostpapa promotional coupon codes.
Saksham,
You say we should do a usability test of our site and hire a professional to do this. Where is a good place to find people who do this and what exactly are they testing in terms of usability? I would like to make sure I do not lose any traffic due to these factors you mentioned. Thanks!
I think Credibility is the most important. It is much important than the other factors. It has big deal with convesion. Only a site can be trusted can keep people.
Hi I agree with you, the credibility is the most important in online business. Not only help us to increasing conversion, people will talk about us.
Wow, I could not agree more! I am guilty of judging businesses based on what their website looks like. From everything to the speed to what kind of font they are using. I really like the point you make about usability. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to explore a product but not being able to find what you are looking for!
As I am working on my site imporvement from last many week after reading this post and I have made many changes also whereever is necessary and atlast its seems perfect NOW.
So thanks a lot for this as this is REAL important points which need to implement ASAP as it true that “Our tells everything about our Business”.
One way I just learned you can speed up your page speed: Google has unleashed a new powerful tool called Google Page Speed. You can actually apply by sending them an email and they may return your application with a powerful toolset that literally increases the speed that your site loads:
It’s pretty impressive! I believe it was just rolled out quite recently.
Another thing is provide a useful content to the user, not just unique and original but think how can you help them in their daily blogging / surfing needs.
I am with you on this one, if a site takes longer than 10 seconds to load I am onto the next one.
Great information for all of us thanks. I know I need to work on optimising my load speed. I’m addicted to adding more plugins and I know they drag the speed down!
Great article. I think its very important for your site to load fast and make a good first impression. People make a snap judgement in the first few seconds and you dont want them to make the wrong one.
Good read, really enjoyed it!
This post is very impressive I can’t say anything but wow!I’d agree to speed, its really quite frustrating that if a website loads up +10s you get feed up with it. And to all points very well explained.
Thanks and cheers!