Why Am I Not Receiving More Traffic?

by Jeb Binkley

Posted: 14 years ago 15 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hello Fellow Warriors,

I have worked diligently over the past few months setting up my online store and implementing a variety of strategies to "naturally" drive traffic to it. Just recently, I achieved the number #1 position in Google for the two word keyword phrase I was targeting. Unfortunately, I have not seen the increase in traffic to my website that I was looking for.

To help you better understand my situation, let me give some more details on the matter.

When I use Google's Adwords: Keyword Tool, my two word keyword phrase delivers these results under the "Local Search Volume" Category:

Broad - 165,000
Phrase - 110,00
Exact - 90,000

Taking the Exact monthly number, I would expect to see roughly 90,000 / 30 days = 3,000 visitors a day. Assuming not everyone who searches for this term clicks on the #1 Google result, let's say only 50% do, so now I except to see approximately 1,500 visitors a day.

I use Host Gator, so going through my cpanel, I check my visits per day under the provided "Website Traffic" box and only see ~100 visits per day. That is a factor of ~10 less that what was calculated above.

What am I missing here? Is 100 unique visitors a day good? Any information or direction to resources would be benefical. Thank you for your time warriors.

#receiving #traffic

Sean Donahoe 14 years ago

There are many factors that could cause this. First, are the people searching for that term actually buyers. What is the title that draws them in? What is the description that demands a "Call to Action"?

Not only that, is the traffic you are receiving converting?

Also, double check your stats with AWStats in Hostgator and if needed install Google Analytics as well (I always compare the 2).

All the best

Sean
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jasonsteven

Banned 14 years ago

[DELETED]

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Jeb Binkley

14 years ago

Originally Posted by jasonsteven

If there is 3000 searches day you can expect 1-10% CTR and that is 30-300 visits if you get 100 visits day it is normal. You can tweak up your title of web page and meta description to increase CTR from you #1 google result.

Ok, the traffic numbers I'm seeing make a little more sense now. I didn't realize the click through rate percentage would be so low (1-10%) for a site listed in the #1 Google spot. I'll look into my title and meta description to help entice more people to come visit my site.

Any guidelines on what a good conversion rate is once people visit your site? I assume it's in the 1-5% range going with the fact that the keyword phrase used to obtain the traffic is a "buyer's" keyword phrase.

Thanks for all the help.

Thanks

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Ron Douglas

14 years ago

Originally Posted by jbinkley

Assuming not everyone who searches for this term clicks on the #1 Google result, let's say only 50% do, so now I except to see approximately 1,500 visitors a day.

50% could be a bad assumption. One factor you might not be considering is how attractive your listing in Google is for searchers. Look at the description that comes up in the search results for your site versus the competition.

People just don't click the #1 result if the description isn't what they want. If the #2 and #3 search results have a more attractive description, your 50% estimate could be way off.

Thanks
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Jill Carpenter

14 years ago

I hate to say it, but it is entirely possible to rank and not drive traffic. It is also possible to be ranking for the wrong reasons. Hard to know without knowing your site.

What have you used in your SEO efforts to lure visitors to the site?

For instance, I could write an article to submit to the directories that helps me rank for the keyword, but if the article is too complete, or does not have a call to action or a reason to click on it will not bring traffic to the primary site.

I could have a site about shoes for instance, and I could be trying to rank for "ruby slippers" and even make a video about ruby slippers and put it on youtube, but if my traffic is looking for information about the Wizard of Oz, and ruby red slippers and my video is about just showing my store has ruby slippers, that traffic may never really want what is on my site.

When you see numbers on the keyword tool, it is not enough. You need to get into the head of the people who will be looking for your product.

Where are they hanging out on the web? Where will you find them? What will really draw them to your site?

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Jeb Binkley

14 years ago

Originally Posted by avenuegirl

What have you used in your SEO efforts to lure visitors to the site?

For instance, I could write an article to submit to the directories that helps me rank for the keyword, but if the article is too complete, or does not have a call to action or a reason to click on it will not bring traffic to the primary site.

I have used a combination of article marketing, relevent blog posting / commenting, Angela's and Paul's packets, social bookmarking, etc. I tried to do a well rounded effort to boost the rankings of my store.

My two word keyword phrase is something like "women's slippers" (sticking with the slippers example.) I assume anyone typing in this phrase would be looking for this product to purchase. It's a pretty general product centered keyword phrase that's not too specific and probably would not be confused with something else like in your example "ruby slippers" and Wizard of Oz.

Anymore thoughts? Thanks for reply avenuegirl.

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Mike Anthony

14 years ago

This is difficult without knowing the keywords but may I ask if you are number one for that particular phrase within quotations or just the two words? Also as has been suggested look at the other titles on the result page.

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ebizman87 14 years ago

For your information, GOOGLE tend to rank websites differently according to it's country..

For an example, you may rank 1st in China but can't be sure in US.

If your target market is US, then of course you've to check your ranking according to US's search results on GOOGLE page 1.

Im telling you this because 1 of my articles end up on 1st page and I was happy to see that.But when I checked it US, it was not even on 2nd page.

There's a special google tool that allows you to see your ranking according to the country that you want to target but I've forgotten that.However you can try SEMRUSH (free competition analysis tool) to check the top 10-20 rankings for your keywords in US.Go through the results that it gives you and check out your real ranking in US. You may even try keywordspy as it'll give you the top 10 organic search results.

Good luck mate..
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Jeb Binkley

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Mike Anthony

I am #1 for the given phrase with no quotes and with quotes. I'll look at the other titles on the result's page to help refine my site's title and description.

Thanks

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Matt Bard 14 years ago

Well as far as the base numbers go with searches it's not exactly what is projected.

There is a percentage of searchers that type something into Google and after seeing the results will not click on any of the listings due to a number of reasons.

They realize they made a mistake, the phone rings, the house catches on fire...

I forgot what the number is but there is a certain number that don't make any clicks.

Let's say only 5%. Now you have 95 % left and of those around 10% turn the page and leave the front so there is now 85% of the 95%.

The number 1 spot gets around 50% number 2 gets 25% - 30% and so on down the listings.

If you are at number 6 - 10 then you are basically getting a very small percentage of the original 95%.

Then as others here have stated, if you don't convert very well with your description then your numbers drop even more.

Some traffic in certain niches automatically go to the top of the page like someone searching for a local business and seeing the Google Local listing at the top. They get huge percentages of searches.

Other people look for specific kinds of sites like .gov or .org. While others are looking for file types like PDFs.

The bottom line is you really need to know your target and how they search, what they are looking for, and what they do when they find it.

Someone looking to book a reservation for a hotel will probably not be interested in buying a book about hotels.

Matt
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Kevin_Hutto

14 years ago

Are you in a niche that displays Google Local listings? If so, you can be pushed way down the page between the adwords and local listings. Second, you may be ranking #1 just in your area as google doesnt update all data centers simultaneously. I have many sites that hit #1 and talk to buddies across the country and I am still way down the page when they search... So it could just take more time. Third, like many have said here -- you have to sell the click with your tags. Try to get into the mindset of the searcher and sell them on clicking on your site. Last, if you are displaying #1 across all data centers and have a good description, I average around a 40% click thru rate from the 1st spot -- whoever said that average clickthru rate of 1-10% is just wrong. Thats not true, just google it and you will see that many tests have confirmed anywhere from 40% to 43% depending on the source.

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Jeb Binkley 14 years ago

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate all the given advice. Thanks for looking out for a fellow warrior.
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- kausarkhan 14 years ago
  
  Hi, google doesnot rank your keywords similarly at all the countries. The search volume you have mentioned might be global search but you are ranked for those keywords at particular locations or countries, thats the reason you are geting few visitors. Moreover, if you want to increase more visitors, you need to get backlinks for your websites from websites hosted from different countries.
  
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Jeb Binkley

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto

Second, you may be ranking #1 just in your area as google doesnt update all data centers simultaneously. I have many sites that hit #1 and talk to buddies across the country and I am still way down the page when they search... So it could just take more time.

Any ideas on how long it takes for all of Google's data centers to update?

Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto

Last, if you are displaying #1 across all data centers and have a good description, I average around a 40% click thru rate from the 1st spot -- whoever said that average clickthru rate of 1-10% is just wrong. Thats not true, just google it and you will see that many tests have confirmed anywhere from 40% to 43% depending on the source.

Good to hear that it's more like 40% than 1-10%.

Looking over the posts, it looks like I need to really focus on my site's description to increase my CTR. Viewing what the competition does is a good idea.

Thanks

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JMPruitt

14 years ago

Using AW stats in hostgator is good, but sign up for Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools. these will be better for analyzing your traffic and seeing how you are ranking. WebmasterTools shows what terms you are ranking for as well as your click rate on those search terms. Analytics is much better at showing you how many people are visiting you site, unique visitors, your bounce rate, and more.

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Jeb Binkley

14 years ago

Originally Posted by JMPruitt

Ok, I though about the tools that you are mentioning above since AW stats in hostgator does not deliver the complete picture. With your recomendation, I think I'll give them a try.

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Why Am I Not Receiving More Traffic?

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