If you have noticed that a lot of people are leaving your site, then the first thought that usually runs into your mind is that your site is not “good enough.”
But if your site is not good enough, then you would want to know that reason.
Nowadays, keeping the attention of your website visitors has been a struggle for many. Not to mention that it can be challenging for website owners to think of the reason why people leave their site.
It is imperative to create a lasting impression to guarantee that users will be coming back again. That said, we are sharing with you the nine most common reasons why users leave your site, as well as how you can fix them:
Your website design is outdated
Every few years, there seem to be significant changes in design, and users expect owners to keep up. If your site looks as if it was designed years ago, users will immediately perceive it as out of date and not relevant.
Keep in mind that your site design is the first thing that they see when they come to your site. That’s why you need to create an excellent first impression.
Your site is the online getaway to your business. Therefore, it should always be your top priority. The quality of your website design will determine whether or not users will stay or leave.
Consider it as your business’s first branding task.
Your website takes a while to load
This is also one of the main reasons why users leave your site.
Ideally, your website shouldn’t take longer than three seconds to load. If it takes longer than that, users will just move on to another site that contains the same information that you offer, but one that loads much faster.
Here are some ways you can improve the loading speed of your site:
- Switch your web hosting
- Optimize your database
- Utilize caching tools
- Compress your images to reduce file sizes
Your website is not responsive
Users, especially the ones who are using mobile devices, will leave a site immediately if it requires them to pinch, zoom, or squint their eyes just to read your navigation bar.
If your site doesn’t make it easy and convenient for the average mobile users to access what they need or want, you’ll be losing out a lot of prospective customers.
Your website navigation is confusing
Similarly, if you have site navigation that is confusing and challenging for users to deal with, then you need to make changes to improve it.
It is also important to focus on a given page, making sure that your navigation leads the user through the right phase of the customer journey.
If your goal is for users to convert, then the Buy or Purchase button should be easy to find. If you want them to scan through your products or services, then ensure that you are leading them in that direction.
On the other hand, if you wanted them to leave an online review, then do not hesitate to ask them!
You have too many ads and pop-ups
Most likely, users are searching for an answer or a solution to their problems. Imagine how annoying and frustrating it would feel if a pop-up appears as soon as they get into your site.
Similarly, this goes out for ads as well. Ideally, it should not be the first thing that users see. It should not take up the majority of your site’s real estate than your actual content.
Your website has poor legibility
When you lack consistency in your branding, particularly in colors, fonts, poor site layout, and spelling errors, this can turn off users.
It is crucial that you pick an aesthetically pleasing branding, encourages particular user behavior, and would fit the voice and personality of your company.
You post outdated, irrelevant content
Having outdated and irrelevant site content is one of the surefire ways to lose your site visitors for good.
If you’re posting regularly, and have a lot of previous archives along with your new content, then you’ll be fine. However, you have to make sure that you update outdated posts.
Chances are, people would love to read new and fresh content. They wanted to know what’s the latest happening within your industry.
You show no credibility
Certifications, testimonials, and reviews are there for a reason ‒ to show that you’re doing a great job and you’re doing it right.
So, if you already have them, make sure that you utilize them. If you don’t, you need to take the appropriate action to get them!
Here’s a guide on how to use testimonials and certifications. Make sure:
- They’re relevant
- They’re visible
- They’re real
- You have permission from your clients/customers
- You utilize them beyond your site.
Your website is not secure or safe
Users that are accessing your site should feel that they’re in good hands and that whatever information they’re sharing will be safe with you. If your website is unsafe, or worse, hacked ‒ it will be unlikely that they’ll trust you.
So you need to alleviate these issues by ensuring that:
- You have a secure site
- You have a privacy and security policy
- You have your contact details in case issues may arise
Having these will give users peace of mind knowing that the information they shared is safe.
There you have it. Make sure that you take all of these factors into consideration, as well as constantly making tweaks to improve the performance of your site.
Kenneth Sytian
Kenneth Sytian is the Owner and CEO of Sytian Productions Web Developer Philippines. He has been designing websites and developing web apps for more than a decade. He is the driving force behind the company and influencer in the industry of web design and development in the Philippines.