A recent report from Kissmetrics showed that 40% of visitors will abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load. 79% have also said that dissatisfaction with a website’s performance will make them less likely to return again.
The team at Google Analytics have been busier than ever recently, and one of the many new reports they’ve launched over the past few months is the Site Speed report. This report allows site owners to analyse individual page load performance. The Site Speed reports have recently upgraded with increased metrics (such as speed breakdowns of server response and page redirection), so now site owners can understand in further detail users’ experience of the site and improve its performance.
With more features than ever, navigating your way round Google Analytics can be confusing and with an estimated 80% of businesses not using it effectively, they are missing out on understanding how to increase their website’s profitability.
To fix this problem, Refreshed Media, the Bournemouth based digital marketing agency, have launched a Google Analytics training and consultancy package for under £500 which offers businesses the opportunity to have their Analytics account configured correctly. The package also includes a 2 hour training session showing how to set up the right reports and evaluate the effectiveness of online marketing to improve return on investment.
Head of Search & Analytics Adrian Durow commented “2011 was the most exciting year for us Google Analytics geeks, with more features launched than ever before. But that’s bad news for business owners and marketing managers who are not keeping up with the changes. I’m excited about our new Analytics package as it’s helping these companies fully understand their website’s performance and make the right decisions to improve.”
To book the Google Analytics package call Adrian Durow on 01202 414101.
Refreshed Media are part the Emerge, a £40 million media, marketing and communications group operating in traditional, digital and online disciplines across a range of markets.
Want to know what to expect from the next year in terms of SEO and how these changes will affect your business? Our Head of Search Adrian Durow offers his predictions for Search in 2012.
The more the years roll on, the less SEO is about just SEO. Over the past year, SEO has really evolved into SEO x Social x Content x UX, and unless sites take a holistic approach, then they’ll be left behind. Here are a few brief predictions for Search in 2012.
- More formats on search results / Less need to click through for specific queries? Google will utilise advanced tagging and channel info (such as Schema.org) to make the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) even more, Specific flight times, restaurant reviews, definitions, weather forecasts… can all be obtained from the SERPs without clicking through.
- Even more personal results Google will utilise even more data from browser history / click-through-rates / Google+ activity / location / Gmail activity in order to further personalise your results to provide a better search experience.
- Analytics data used as a ranking factor I do believe that the time (quite soon) will come when Google looks at site retention data and bounce from it’s own analytics accounts where permission has been granted, in order to determine relevance and positions in the SERPs. So if you’re not paying attention to optimising site performance and conversion rates, then your positions could be affected.
- Google providing less data We’re really gutted about the non-passing of keyword data into Analytics from logged in visitors. We’re anticipating that this could evolve with less organic-keyword-specific data being passed to Google Analytics to help us SEOs. On the flip-side of the coin… Google Analytics range of functionality has really developed in leaps and bound over the past 12 months.
What are your predictions for Search in the coming year? Leave a comment and let us know.
The arrival of integrated encryption protocol Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) into natural searches, is expected into the UK, early next year. This means that the natural search terms that bring a user to a website will no longer be visible in referral data.
Already search encryption has been introduced into the US, with SEO agencies reporting that is has been affecting client’s search traffic. It is expected that in time, there will be a knock on effect with paid search budgets as more money will have to be invested in testing keywords.
The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) is currently working on guidelines, in the case that Google does extend the encryption to UK search.
Another issue to affect Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) practice, is Google’s latest update, ‘Panda’ to its search algorithm. The update is designed to distinguish high quality websites from low quality. This is where producing valuable and original content on a regular basis is key.
Websites with a high proportion of adverts or sites that have been blocked by users will slip down the rankings. The other side of this is that, websites with a large number of ‘+1’ button clicks will go up, reflecting that fact that other users find the website useful.
If you’d like to find out more about how our SEO Department can benefit your website, get in touch and ask about our practical workshops and seminars. Alternatively, you may be interested in our Google Analytics Package.
Via NMA and Search Engine Watch.
