Bloggers: What Is Your Bounce Rate?
 

Lately my traffic has tanked and I am trying to increase it by getting new sources, changing my marketing somewhat and other strategies. Right now most of my traffic comes from search engines (Google in particular).

I signed up for Google Analytics and I am now starting to get data. I noticed that my Bounce Rate is 84%. (Bounce Rate being defined as the percentage of people leaving your site after viewing only the page they landed on.)

Bloggers, I was wondering if you use Google Analytics and if you'd share what your Bounce Rate is? Thanks.

Hey Art I'm going to start using Google Analytics in the near future so not sure what my bounce rate is.
I don't think mine is that high according to AWStats I get 16.29 Pages/Visit

From 07/11 to 08/11

Average:37.34%

So far today, the bounce rate is sitting around 43%.

My bounce rate is about 40% on the only blog I've got hooked into analytics.

Check your site in IE6. Your right hand side bars are pushed below the left side. It's really amazing how that small issue really changes the look of your site. In Firefox it's cool, with IE6 visually it looks confusing so much so that I was getting ready to ask if you had changed your design lately as the whole site layout seemed different than what I remember from having viewed it previously.

If I was a surfer with IE6 on my computer I probably wouldn't spend much time on your site either.

Thanks Art, I just moved Google Analytics from way down on my todo list to the top
It's going to be a very long and boring day |loony|

Sorry, I caused you the extra work! Bounce Rate is the percentage of surfers who look at the page that got them to your site and then leave. Eighty-four percent of surfers from Google come to my site and then immediately leave.

|goodidea Thanks to Walrus I have something to work on to improve it.

My bounce rate over the last 30-days (according to Google Analytics) is 50.8%. Since the beginning of the year, it's 47.2%. I do wish my pages/visit number was larger though: It really doesn't budge, and hovers at 4.7 or so pages per visit. My visits are up, but overall page views are trending down.

Yes, but doesn't that bounce rate include those surfers that come to the site and click on a sponsor link? So the bounce rate doesn't really tell you if he hit 'Back' or closed the window or went on to your sponsor and bought a membership, right? That's the way I've understood it.

Yes, you are right. I think that is why I am bad at this.

I noticed when my blog was new or was getting new traffic sources the bounce rate was much higher. Seems the last one I started it was around 84%, which kinda makes sense, new traffic sources just checking out new sites. Also probably quite a few freeloaders looking for instant porn, they don't see it and leave. Just my thoughts.

After a new blog settled down, I think it was running about 35%.

The other thought would be your getting more un-targeted traffic?

The other big question is, what have you changed recently? I don't remember the site exactly but looks like it's changed alot. Maybe it's confused your regulars, or they think they hit the wrong site?

Just my two cents.