75% are leaving my site in under 30 seconds

[Emailrevealer]

That can't be very good for sales. My traffic is very well targeted too so it must be my crappy web site that makes the visitors run for their lives.

Obviously 75% in 30 seconds is horrible but what should I be shooting for?

My site is The Email Tracing Experts, Online Infidelity and Cyber Stalking Investigations and Reverse Email Search. Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks

[Charles Butler]

Yeah Im going to go with your website being the reason a lot of people leave... it doesn't have any pictures and the information looks kind of thrown together. That's just what I see...

[Revolves]

Try finding the keywords people are using to come to your site (Analytics should tell you that). A small research should reveal what these people are looking out for. Then, add this bit of information on the top of your page, with bold headline (which might link to the product people are wanting).

BTW: This applies when you're getting traffic to your homepage directly.

[yesacpow]

The honest truth is that your website is too crowded. When I landed on it the first thing I wanted to do was to click the back button. Everthing just came at me like MAN.

Try and tidy up the page. Have one presell or at least only have 3 topics.

Instead of having 2 columns use one broad column.

A good option would be to go for a wordpress blog

Originally Posted by Charles Butler

Yeah Im going to go with your website being the reason a lot of people leave... it doesn't have any pictures and the information looks kind of thrown together. That's just what I see...

[Quentin]

Actually that is pretty average in fact a bit below average.

Most people would have no idea what their retention rate is.

I have a customer who is very big and theirs is about 83% but they make a huge amount of sales.

Also the longer your site has been around and the more promotions and marketing you do will cause this to rise as you will get visitors from all over the place.

I like to use a search meter in my site which tells me how they got there and the search term. My site has been online now for over 6 years selling streaming audio software and I am always amazed at how some people get to my site as some of the keywords etc have never even been part of my promotions. Here are some.

no hassle free film...
televiison music libraries...
aplicaciones para...
how to stream video with... ( its an audio site)

I am sure once they got there it was not what they wanted.

Quentin

[gxd5]

onunload();

[4deb]

my first impression was "too busy" --- no main focus of what to do first, or where to go

[Hudu]

Actually i think you got bretty good idea in there. I would put some pictures in your site and fif the colours little bit jut to make it a bit softer. Good luck with your site

[WillDee]

2c deposited: Very busy page.
Use a more structured single column layout with clearly demarcated subject/topic headings and content and it'll help retain the bounces.

[shane_k]

All the read headlines are just way too disctracting and my eyes couldn't really focus anywhere, or really get a chance to read your page.

It felt like my eyes were just jumping from red headline to red headline to red headline, and everything else just got lost.

I would say change the color of your headlines. Sure you might one or two to pop out but not every single one.

Keep us updated on your changes.


Shane_K

[bombdiggity]

I think your biggest problem is that you're trying to get your visitors to order something at the end of every single post, and nearly everywhere on your website. Your entire website, even your blog, is setup as one big product list. It's obvious that you're just providing this content to make a sale (at least to me), and I think your visitors can see right through this.

Linking to a product in every paragraph of your blog posts is exactly what I'm talking about. You need to cut that out and be a little more subtle. The sad thing is that your articles are actually pretty good.

I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm just providing some constructive criticism that I think you desperately need, and I hope this post helps you. You should also work on a better color scheme that's easier on the eyes.

Your content (at least on the blog) really IS good. You just need to utilize it a little better.

-Josh

[shane_k]

Originally Posted by JoshuaCreighton

I think your biggest problem is that you're trying to get your visitors to order something at the end of every single post, and nearly everywhere on your website. Your entire website, even your blog, is setup as one big product list. It's obvious that you're just providing this content to make a sale (at least to me), and I think your visitors can see right through this.

Linking to a product in every paragraph of your blog posts is exactly what I'm talking about. You need to cut that out and be a little more subtle. The sad thing is that your articles are actually pretty good.

I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm just providing some constructive criticism that I think you desperately need, and I hope this post helps you. You should also work on a better color scheme that's easier on the eyes.

Your content (at least on the blog) really IS good. You just need to utilize it a little better.

-Josh

Wow, I didn't even make it that far. I didn't stay on his page long enough to even realize that he was selling something.

And yeah your advice to work on a better color scheme that is easier on the eyes is the first thing he should do, and then follow the rest of your advice.

Great post Josh.

Shane_K

[Matt Barrington]

I'll have to agree with some of the posts above. This site has a lot of potential, though!

1. Try implying the design Rule of Importance: Make the most important thing the most noticeable thing. If you want a sale, make sure the other colors, fonts, and design don't detract from your call to action.

2. Consider a darker color scheme. My first thought was that the blue and red are nice, but VERY bright. I think you'll find for your target market a more subdued look will work better. I recommend some blacks, grays, and maybe some gold highlights. You also might consider adding more circles and ovals. They tend to add a more sleek look to it.

3. You might try changing up your logo a little. It looks a little generic. I get that it involves private investigation, but it looks a little cartoony.

Please bear in mind these are all just my opinions. I think your content is spot on, you just need a little design help.

[iwanttomakemoney]

I think the color scheme is a bit too bright and 1990s. It's bland and nobody likes "bland" anymore. Like Matt Barrington said above, go for something darker. Preferably lime/electric green and gray/black, because those colors give off a trigger of technological topics.

Also, your page is too cluttered. I visited your page and immediately closed it out of reflex.

[tmursch]

Change to one column layout and experiment with different color schemes. Also, try a different background color besides gray.

[Paul Hooper]

You need visual aids to draw people in. As soon as you open the site all you see is words, nothing to catch the eye. If you had a relevant picture there, then i'm sure you would see better results.

Cheers,
Paul

[xiaophil]

Originally Posted by gxd5

onunload();

For those of us not so conversant in JavaScript, onunload() is a function call which can cause an action (like a popup) as someone attempts to leave your page.

Some consider this a little aggressive, but if the visitor is leaving anyway then hey why not?

In this case it could be a good idea. A popup with a brief well worded offer (or question) followed by a redirect to your best converting product.

After all they came to the site looking for something.


Phil

[Revolves]

Originally Posted by xiaophil

For those of us not so conversant in JavaScript, onunload() is a function call which can cause an action (like a popup) as someone attempts to leave your page.

Some consider this a little aggressive, but if the visitor is leaving anyway then hey why not?

In this case it could be a good idea. A popup with a brief well worded offer (or question) followed by a redirect to your best converting product.

After all they came to the site looking for something.


Phil

Hey, maybe those exit "pop-overs" might work too. They're not real popups, just a normal pop-over that appears when the visitor hovers his mouse outside the page are (possibly to hit the back or close button).

[Warrior Globetrotter]

-Too much text...add an image or two to your home

-and focus on one "star" product to promote at a time as to not bog down your visitors...how many products does walmart sell? and look at their site to see how they avoid bogging down their site visitors by promoting a couple specials at a time...

hope that helps...dom

[Bob Monie]

Yes your site is definitely to crowded.

So many places to navigate. You will be overwhelming people with options. Cut the navigation links by 2/3. Focus on 2 or 3 not 20

[MrMike]

Your site doesn't have an attention grabber. The good news is you can fix it and start making money.

[naijapower]

You need to re-work your site. I think you have been given very valuable advise here. If you follow, you are bound to see an improvement. Goodluck

[Emailrevealer]

Oh Boy!
Ok that's some great advice I just have a few questions.

First. Thank you all for responding, don't worry about hurting my feelings. I'm a big boy and I want honest advice.

Second. The site does already make me a full time income. It's my only source of income and I make double the avergage income for my city. But obviously I'm throwing away a ton of potential sales.

Third. The list of products is rather common to my industry. Most of my visitors are Private Investigators and are familiar with this style. In fact my site is considered less busy and crowded with orders that the average "Information" web site.

What kind of pictures or images could I possibly include to illustrate an "email Trace" or "an Infidelity Investigation" I have no clue. " Damn it Kirk I'm a PI not a graphic artist "

I like the idea of a pop up on exit. At the very least it could offer an option to email a question....

BTW one reason I have so much text is to fit in more key word search terms. It's been working out quite well I thought but I suppose there could be a better balance.


Last what do you think is a reasonable price to redesign the front page with some relevant images, maintain the SEO and provide the new improved version in a zip file so my webby can upload it?

[AmyKay]

I'd start with just some images of people, if you can't think of anything else. Regular people, not suits, maybe sitting at a laptop.

[tommyp]

Hi, EmailRevealer

Like others have said the page is too confusing and busy. There are too many options and all the blue links appear to be overwhelming, probably because people instantly see they are links and are expected to click on one and have no idea where to go.

Someone passionately looking for this info probably will tolerate it longer (the other 25%) but people generally are scatterbrained already and the appearance doesn't help.

You probably need to streamline it, break everything down to the least common denominator and deciding on the one thing you are trying to get visitors to do.

If there has to be more than one option, still break it down to the very minimum it has to be. Even then with more than one possible option, depending on the person's needs, this can still be helped with either a drop down box, graphical boxes that display the outcome a person wants with a few bullet points in it, etc.

This site is an example of what you might want to make your site more like:

Webstigate.com - Where Web Investigates: Public Records Lookup

It's much easier on the eyes.

People say ugly sites do better but what is ugly is a matter of opinion. You don't have to be ultra snazzy but by "ugly" I think what people really mean is simple. Simple, easier on the eyes, streamlined pages probably do do better.

[Emailrevealer]

OK but please put this into perspective for me.
These are 2 sites that I would consider my compitition. In my biased opinion I'm a million times better. Am I crazy?

Criminal Record, Background Check, Trace email, Phone Number lookup, People search, cell phone number search, License Plate Search
www.eFindOutTheTruth.com

I like the look of the webstigate site above

[Droopy Dawg]

Make a 35-second video about your services... then you wouldn't have this problem

JUST KIDDING...

Seriously you should create a video about everything your site has to offer. You can actually read verbatim from what's on your site.

Stick an opt-in box under your video, then once they optin you can redirect them to your website (this one). At least now ythey'll know what to expect, and what to look for when they see the page.

Of course you can change your layout... but if you stick a video on your home page then they'll be a little informed BEFORE they see your page. Plus they'll be on your list, so you can send them info about your services thru your autoresponder.

Just a thought...

DeShon

[AlphaWarrior]

While most posters have an opinion on the website design, I do not see anyone offering numbers as to viewers who leave within 30 seconds. I have several websites and I find that 75% is probably average. I also have some viewers who stay on my webites for over an hour.

What are your numbers?

[Emailrevealer]

Hi Alpha
These are the stats.
Number of visits: 14037 - Average: 146
s Number of visits Percent
0s-30s 10862 77.3 %
30s-2mn 1582 11.2 %
2mn-5mn 562 4 %
5mn-15mn 468 3.3 %
15mn-30mn 205 1.4 %
30mn-1h 213 1.5 %
1h+ 145 1 %

I made 48 sales that month.

[Jill Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Emailrevealer

What kind of pictures or images could I possibly include to illustrate an "email Trace" or "an Infidelity Investigation" I have no clue. " Damn it Kirk I'm a PI not a graphic artist "

A nancy drew type picture. Nancy with a magnifying glass, looking at a sheet of IP addresses.

Or, for the infidelity, you can do an illustration of a guy dressed like a PI taking a picture of a couple that looks like a couple of cheaters in a car or going into an apartment. I was thinking of him taking it through a window at them in bed but that may be too peeping tomish.

[carlcholette]

I think your website design is the problem. You should have nice looking graphics and make your website less busy and more user friendly. Also, make sure you know where your traffic is coming from and which keyword phrases people are using to get to your site.

[AfteraDream]

Definitely needs new design. I little bit too much of content in one place. Add pictures to liven up the page...

[Emailrevealer]

Ok I get the idea about the pictures and I'm working on that . Thank you.

As for the traffic. It is 100% highly targeted traffic. I know exactly where it comes from. The traffic is targeted.

That's not the problem. I have highly motivated traffic.

[jerodrx]

In First you need a Subheading to tell the visitors what your site is about,
and looks too crowded, there is many places to go.

I really think that you can do much better with a WordPress Blog with
a static page, in that static page you should tell what kind of info can i found
and how i may be benefited with the solutions you provide.

Best Wishes
Joel Rodriguez

[JohnMcCabe]

I have two suggestions for you to test...

1. Tone down the color scheme just a tad. If you want to keep the headlines, try a darker red. Same with the nav column. Tone back the blue in the menu to something readable but not as distracting.

2. Move the catalog down the page. Above the fold put something like "What are you here to do today?" Then list the various things you offer with radio buttons. When the visitor clicks on a button, a simple onClick() action moves them down the page to the appropriate section. If you do, I'd back off to a single column.

This keeps your keywords on the page and still simplifies the above the fold screen a visitor sees on arriving.

2B. You could try making the front page similar to a squeeze page, with your options in a clean menu. Clicking an option takes the visitor to the appropriate section of your current page.

Some things to think about, at least...

[Emailrevealer]

Thanks guys.
But I just want to clarify one issue.


Everyone agrees I need some kind of graphics and I need to clean up the text.

But considering that the links I posted to my competition are way more confusing and cluttered than my site will the changes make a significant difference?

[Emailrevealer]

Thanks Josh but I only use the blogs for back links.

I get very little traffic from the blogs.
Almost all of my traffic is from Search Engines, Google and Ezinearticles.
The rest are from articles reprinted to other blogs and then from my blogs.

Originally Posted by JoshuaCreighton

I think your biggest problem is that you're trying to get your visitors to order something at the end of every single post, and nearly everywhere on your website. Your entire website, even your blog, is setup as one big product list. It's obvious that you're just providing this content to make a sale (at least to me), and I think your visitors can see right through this.

Linking to a product in every paragraph of your blog posts is exactly what I'm talking about. You need to cut that out and be a little more subtle. The sad thing is that your articles are actually pretty good.

I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm just providing some constructive criticism that I think you desperately need, and I hope this post helps you. You should also work on a better color scheme that's easier on the eyes.

Your content (at least on the blog) really IS good. You just need to utilize it a little better.

-Josh

[J smith]

Too much red text, although 1 column would probably be better than 2. There are at least 5-6 lines that draw a visitors attention when they get to your site, should be just 1 or maybe 2 things.

[SeanIM]

Originally Posted by 4deb

my first impression was "too busy" --- no main focus of what to do first, or where to go

agreed

there is simply no white-space and no fast call to action anywhere that I notice at a quick glance...no enticing headline that makes me want to read more...

-S

[superstylefactor]

woah... it's almost like harry potter entering the labyrinth in the order of the phoenix! make you wanna turn back where u came from!

[sbucciarel]

Your competitors are every bit as cluttered .... this must be the style for this niche. You're making a full time living from the site. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Emailrevealer]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Your competitors are every bit as cluttered .... this must be the style for this niche. You're making a full time living from the site. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Yes it is the style for this niche and it's what most of my clients expect to find when they visit.

It's not the standard "make money" long sales page most Warriors are familiar with.

Also it does make money.

But I believe if I can tweek the first page and retain more visitors there would be an increase in sales.

[bweiss]

If you think you can improve stickiness and conversions by changing your home page, then I highly recommend that you A/B split test any changes and monitor your results. In fact it is a practice that you should employ on a consistent basis. Once you create a page that works it becomes your control. That control might or might not be the best so you test against it and when you find a version that improves your business results you make that one your control and test against it.

You don't have to drive half your traffic for the test only enough to read your results. If you find a winner you can turn on the traffic slowely to make sure it projects out.

[Dennis Gaskill]

While I strongly dislike the color scheme, I would suggest that a lot of people leave your site because they are looking for free ways to find someone. They're searching for an old high school chum, an army buddy, their first love, etc., but really aren't curious enough to pay for it. I'd try to figure out how many of your quick leaving visitors fall into that category. Your site may be converting very well for private investigators and you just don't know it.

[imaw ni umay]

it seems that everything boils down to one thing.. your website lacks appeal. it needs to be redesigned... from the format, theme, layout, color to graphics and pictures... almost everything!

[Topgunb]

sent you a pm with a real solution

[AlbertF]

Your site needs to be more appealing other wise they will leave. A better looking site, the more likely they are to stay.

[bestIMtools]

I would take out EVERYTHING out of your site and start all over. There is enough information to create 50 sites there and that's what you should do, focus on one thing at a time.

Just add a header image, and headline, a few bullet points, and an optin form. Focus on getting the optins first.

[elitesystem]

you really need to work on your design mate! people hunt for information and they will stay only if you give them what they need.. plan, organize and implement ! cheers

[DirectoryKing]

A little busy, a little tidying and tone up on the bright red.