Bounce Rate on non-mobile optimized websites

wilder1047 · 15th May 2012, 08:37 PM

Hey guys,

Just got my first restaurant client, I'm more focused on the SEO/web design arena so I'm more active in the Offline section.

Curious though, we loaded up analytics onto my clients site, who's site is not mobile optimized, and the bounce rate is actually LOWER when being viewed by a mobile.

I thought that naturally the bounce rate would be through the roof since it's hard to navigate and all the other selling points of a mobile optimized site.

But, nope.. I've just installed the analytics a couple weeks ago so it's hardly solid numbers to base anything off of, but I'm surprised.

Have you guys found this to be any different? I'm interested instead of what sounds to be the logical answer, what you've found with analytics.

Thanks,

James

chrisalbright · 15th May 2012, 11:17 PM

A high bounce rate indicates you've got un-targeted traffic and/or the page is not optimized for your traffic - so they leave. And on most home internet connections, going back and trying something else is very easy and convenient.

Its not so easy or convenient on the phone tho - they're still much slower than your computer at home, and going back means waiting at least a couple seconds. Not to mention the few seconds it took for your client's page to load - then the couple seconds its going to take the browser to load the other page...15-20 seconds doesn't seem like a long time but people have short attention spans.

Maybe people are more willing to pay the cost of figuring out how to work with a non-optimized website and hopefully find something they want than they are willing to go back and start all over again wait "forever" (Louis CK - Hilarious - Part 6 - Cell Phones And Flying - YouTube) and maybe find nothing.

I would be more interested in "Actions taken" than bounce rate. That could mean anything of course, but if you define it in terms of phone calls received, or reservations made can give you much more meaningful data.

15th May 2012, 08:37 PM	#1
wilder1047 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: Everywhere Posts: 331 Thanks: 84 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Bounce Rate on non-mobile optimized websites Share on: Hey guys, Just got my first restaurant client, I'm more focused on the SEO/web design arena so I'm more active in the Offline section. Curious though, we loaded up analytics onto my clients site, who's site is not mobile optimized, and the bounce rate is actually LOWER when being viewed by a mobile. I thought that naturally the bounce rate would be through the roof since it's hard to navigate and all the other selling points of a mobile optimized site. But, nope.. I've just installed the analytics a couple weeks ago so it's hardly solid numbers to base anything off of, but I'm surprised. Have you guys found this to be any different? I'm interested instead of what sounds to be the logical answer, what you've found with analytics. Thanks, James

15th May 2012, 11:17 PM	#2
chrisalbright Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: California Posts: 15 Thanks: 9 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Bounce Rate on non-mobile optimized websites Share on: A high bounce rate indicates you've got un-targeted traffic and/or the page is not optimized for your traffic - so they leave. And on most home internet connections, going back and trying something else is very easy and convenient. Its not so easy or convenient on the phone tho - they're still much slower than your computer at home, and going back means waiting at least a couple seconds. Not to mention the few seconds it took for your client's page to load - then the couple seconds its going to take the browser to load the other page...15-20 seconds doesn't seem like a long time but people have short attention spans. Maybe people are more willing to pay the cost of figuring out how to work with a non-optimized website and hopefully find something they want than they are willing to go back and start all over again wait "forever" (Louis CK - Hilarious - Part 6 - Cell Phones And Flying - YouTube) and maybe find nothing. I would be more interested in "Actions taken" than bounce rate. That could mean anything of course, but if you define it in terms of phone calls received, or reservations made can give you much more meaningful data.