‘Bounce rate’ refers to the percentage of site visitors that leave your page without clicking on anything.

Much of Google Analytics is self-explanatory. However, more and more we get the question “what is a good bounce rate?”. Well, the answer should really be based on your site and what your selling/providing/displaying. As a rule of thumb; the more specific your offering, the better you bounce rate should be. If you have a site dedicated to pink shoes laces to fit size 16 mens shoes – you should expect a very low bounce rate. That said, it’s widely accepted that a bounce rate of 30 – 40% is good.

To begin improving your bounce rate you need to look at three basic area’s.
• Marketing (why people go to your site)
What is the message that you are putting out there to attract visitors. Are the sites that are linking back to your site relevant to your offering? Do your keywords and meta tags properly represent your business? Are your adword campaigns correctly targeted?

• Credibility (how reliable visitors think your offering is)
Does your website display integrity? Can the user trust your offering. This is especially true for sites that sell online. If the visitor doesn’t feel comfortable that you are a reputable business, they are very unlikely to give you their credit card details. Online shop owners are often reluctant to invest money in new designs, but as soon as your site begins to look tired or outdated you will see a decrease in sales.

• Useability (how easily users can find what they are looking for)
This is calls for a common sense approach. Ensure your page is laid out in a fashion that makes sense to different user types. Ensuring your popular items (be it blogs, products or information) are prominent will significantly impact on your

In conclusion, if you can ensure visitors come to your site for the right reason, they trust your offering, and they can easily find what they are looking for, your bounce rate should remain at a low rate