Do you know how to check the standing of your website and the traffic that it's bringing in?

I just signed on a new web design client and for the umpteenth time learned that, like so many entrepreneurs, she has no idea whether her existing website is performing well or doing her any good, though it's been up for years. If you're like her, please let me know. I'd like to get a better idea of how many smart business owners are out there who are at a disadvantage by not knowing how to check their site's performance. I'd be happy to offer a free 15-minute phone tutorial to show them how. No obligation.

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All Answers (51)

Answers (1-10)

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Answered on May 3rd, 2019

It is not the business client's job to know this (unless they are trying to do it all themselves). It is their consultant's job to make them aware of the information and its merit.

It's the same as wondering why a homeowner knows nothing about alternating current when they contact an electrician.

The bottom line is... if the prospect has all the answers, they surely won't call you unless they are just outsourcing the work

RJ Cooper from Contractor Marketing Network

Every business owner should know their numbers. On all platforms and marketing channels. If they are working with a marketing service, agency or freelancer. Then it is the responsibility of that service provider to inform the client of what the numbers are, what they represent and if they are not working toward the goals set in the strategic plan, then they need adjustments.

from

Answered on May 3rd, 2019

You need to have an analytic program setup on your site. The most common one is Google analytics.

Regina Sawyer from Joyful Enterprises

I agree with Maury. The competition is so stiff these days, one has to go the extra mile to get any significant result.

from

Answered on May 4th, 2019

Traffic is fine, but that can be bought. Obtaining quality traffic comes from site rankings, how you rank on the search engines for relevant keywords. Many times people think relevant keywords is there business name, Wrong! Relevant keywords are what you do not who you are, these rankings normally can be attained quite easily for local and regional results with proper basic organic optimization of your website. With proper optimization you are then honing into quality customers, hence you will generate more revenue from your website. Pending on the business you are in your business could easily double or triple with proper optimization. I say this depends on the type of business you are in because with many retail businesses much more work is needed to obtain rankings as the sheer number of businesses competing for relevant keywords increases exponentially.

from

Answered on May 3rd, 2019

I agree with David, Google Analytics

BJ Adkins from Animal-Angels Foundation

I think that a business owner should at least know how to read their Google Analytics (or other site traffic) report even if they have a consultant or full time employee doing the work. How else will they know if the job is actually being done?

from

Answered on May 3rd, 2019

This is both an easy and a complex answer. Let me consolidate some of the suggestions below into a progression. 1) Set up Google Analytics. It's simple to set up and will always be free. I assume your client submits their sitemap to Google Search Console. If not, you need to set that up too. If it's a WordPress site, there are simple plugins for both Google Analytics and sitemap submissions. Make sure to connect Google Analytics with the clients Search Console account (Google Analytics Settings). Now you have basic analytics to see how much traffic and where it's coming from (search, social links, etc.). Next you are ready to begin to tackle the issues of driving targeted users to the site. The final step is to optimize the content and customer journey so it converts users into customers.

George Austin from Say It With Power

Yep. All that. Sad, but when I see sites, they have all the hi-tech done, along with dazzling graphics, but the message is so often geared toward "Look at what a great company we are! We know you want to know more and more about how great we are...blah, blah" And in those first five seconds, all the visitor is thinking about is "What's in it for me? Oh, don't see anything here." Click. Gone! So, all that money spent on sites, SEO, analytics, dazzling graphics goes "Poof!" in a matter of seconds. Unless you have a copywriter who knows what he's doing! Then it becomes..."Oh, that's interesting...Wow! I need to get that! Click. "Let's see 2365 1245 2563 7854 expires 7/2023 security code 198." Bling! "You may download your product at this link..." George

Business from Middletown, NY

Answered on May 3rd, 2019

Let me turn that 15 minute tutorial to less than one.

Did the entrepreneur ever get any leads (e-mails, phone calls and/or letters resulting from visit to website)? Did the entrepreneur ever sell anything on the website?

If the answer is I don't know or no, their website is dragging its feet.

Maritza Selva from Mortgage Documents Solutions, Inc.

Definitely, it's on the moon!

from

Answered on May 6th, 2019

In a nutshell, you need traffic data and then reports with the key stats. Upfront, the goals you have for traffic are essential because that's how you evaluate the reports and decide what's working and what isn't. Finally, it's crucial to understand that this is a task you must perform on a regular basis in order for it to be useful.

To expand on these points …

To get the necessary stats, as others have noted, Google Analytics is a free service that is used on many if not the majority of sites tracked by BuiltWith and other similar services. However, configuring and interpreting the reports is something that's a struggle for most people and so a consultant is important. Moreover, this is another example something you have to do on a regular basis — weekly or monthly — because it's the trends you're looking.

If your site is a WordPress one, you have a lot of free or inexpensive choices apart from Google Analytics and, in may cases, you'll see your numbers from within WordPress.

There are lots of guides to help you understand key stats like bounce rate and time on page.

Bear in mind that traffic is one thing, conversion another. In addition, more traffic and conversions are of little benefit if the prospects aren't qualified for your products and services.

Having clear objectives gives you a basis with which to measure your site's performance using the data and reports on the site. Then the question arises as to what you can do to improve your site's search engine optimization (SEO) many of which relate to the content on your site and how you have written, organized and presented it. That's a topic for another day.

I'm not sure that "15-minute phone tutorial" will be of much use other than to present oneself and his or her services. That's useful but not a tutorial.