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"average time on site" what attributes?

by RentItNow
10 replies
I've been doing some testing on one of my original sites. I changed it to purely a sales page and have a question regarding peoples average time on site.

If it is zero, is it usually because of the headline or just because it looks like a sales page? What percentages would you say are contributing factors?

The traffic is mostly targeted and 50% are coming from my blog about the same subject. My fear is the blog is attracting "people looking for free stuff" and then when they go onto main site, I am selling them something.

What I am concerned about is, should I test more headlines and watch that figure or chalk that up to the fact it is just a sales pages and people are too jaded by sales pages.
#attributes #average time on site
  • Profile picture of the author ELVISTHEPELVIS
    I am in the same boat. I recently installed Google Analytics on a new site and noticed AVG time on site was 0 sec. I figure when people click through and find out that something is being sold then they immediately press the back button.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by ELVISTHEPELVIS View Post

      I recently installed Google Analytics on a new site and noticed AVG time on site was 0 sec.
      This is also how Google treats anyone whose time on the site can't be calculated, for whatever reason. For example, if they click through to your site, then type another URL in their browser - Google has no idea whether your site is still open in another tab, or it's been closed, or he's still reading it, or it's been bookmarked for later. So time on site comes up as 0.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
    Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

    The traffic is mostly targeted and 50% are coming from my blog about the same subject. My fear is the blog is attracting "people looking for free stuff" and then when they go onto main site, I am selling them something.
    Here's a way to test what's happening.

    Create a page which provides them with information that will logically lead them deeper into the sales letter (i.e. a mini sales letter with a cliffhanger link at the end), and make sure you're able to track click-thrus.

    Then split test.

    If you're still getting the average time on site as zero, your problem is the TRAFFIC.

    If not, it may be what you suggest.
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    PresellContent.com - How to sell without "selling"
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    • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
      Originally Posted by Paul Hancox View Post

      Here's a way to test what's happening.

      Create a page which provides them with information that will logically lead them deeper into the sales letter (i.e. a mini sales letter with a cliffhanger link at the end), and make sure you're able to track click-thrus.

      Then split test.
      Paul, can you give me an example of the mini sales letter...you speak of? I like this idea.
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      I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
        Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

        Paul, can you give me an example of the mini sales letter...you speak of? I like this idea.
        I can't find one off hand at the moment, but basically what I mean is to take the most EDUCATIONAL and INFORMATIVE part of your sales letter, and then create one page, perhaps one and a half page, getting them hooked...

        ATTENTION GETTING HEADLINE (not giving away that you're selling a product)

        [information]

        [cliffhanger], i.e. Click here to find out what happened when I challenged the so-called experts...

        If you're still getting zero, then the problem is the traffic.

        If you're getting more people to stick around and click the link, it's the copy.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekmichael02
    cashbootstrapmethod.com is a good example.
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  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

    I've been doing some testing on one of my original sites. I changed it to purely a sales page and have a question regarding peoples average time on site.

    If it is zero, is it usually because of the headline or just because it looks like a sales page? What percentages would you say are contributing factors?

    The traffic is mostly targeted and 50% are coming from my blog about the same subject. My fear is the blog is attracting "people looking for free stuff" and then when they go onto main site, I am selling them something.

    What I am concerned about is, should I test more headlines and watch that figure or chalk that up to the fact it is just a sales pages and people are too jaded by sales pages.
    Hi John,

    Without seeing your blog or sales page, a possible problem may be the transition between the two.

    An example would be the tone of your sales page being quite different than your blog.

    You should have no problem asking for the sale if the message conveys that would be the logical step in moving forward to getting the desired outcome.

    Another thing to watch for on your sales page, is selling too soon.

    Make it value packed information first, then show them how they can move forward.

    Another way is to get away from looking like a sales page, is to call it a Research Briefing...
    Executive Briefing... White Paper.

    Granted, this is geared more to business people rather than consumers, so I may be off base with this, because of the lack of information in front of me.

    Want to share more, so we can give more?

    All the best,
    Ewen
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  • Profile picture of the author vip-ip
    I feel like the actual "Average Time On Site" depends a lot on 1) the amount of content on the page, 2) 'funnel' qualities of each sentence, sucking you down into the copy. Obviously, things like layouts, graphics, videos and long lists of features and testimonials will produce longer time spent on your site, if the information is compelling enough.

    Best Regards,
    vip-ip ...
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    Thank you everyone for their responses. See below.

    Paul: Thanks for the format. I am working on now.

    CDarklock: That would explain a lot as I had friends go on it, stay for some time then close and it...but it showed up as zero time on site.

    Derek: Thanks, looking at now. Makes senses but your links on the page are all 404.

    Ewen: I'm reviewing the funnel a bit more. As I said, I recently changed it as I was finding that all my previous sales were almost right away in the sale funnel and I was actually just slowing the process down by building the list and autoresponding videos and content to the end sale. In other words, I didn't need the 6 emails cause they were buying after the first or second. Once I did the math, only 10% of optins were viewing the sales message.

    ViP-IP: Almost the same letter has produced 15% sales ONCE they got to that letter so the letter works, its the funnel that I need to adjust. I just don't know how to shorten it to get to the point so to speak that most people want to. Workin on it though.

    The blog is blog.howtorentyourhousenow.com and the sales page is at How To Rent Your House Now. House For Rent Secrets REVEALED!

    What is very weird is I am still converting, but the time on site is really bugging me. I know I can do more sales. One thing I notice about my typical customer is they REALLY want the information NOW. They are usually using it to make a very huge financial decision and do not want to wade through the tons of crap just to get to it. So hopefully the way it is converting will continue. I also notice people are using it to make money with (run a property rental business as I did) which is where I will head with it next. One thing at a time though. This letter is more geared towards a person that has never been a landlord before and cant decide whether to rent their property out or not. And it usually involves the fact they are holding two properties.

    Thanks everyone for the help so far.
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    As an update to this thread, I changed the headline and had a much higher response than I would have imagined.

    I have enough traffic to test things pretty quickly now and am doing so.
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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