Analyzing Your Website Traffic

Analyzing your web traffic statistics can be an invaluable tool for a number of different reasons. But before you can make full use of this tool, you need to understand how to interpret the data.

Most web hosting companies will provide you with basic web traffic information that you then have to interpret and make pertinent use of. However, the data you receive from your host company can be overwhelming if you don’t understand how to apply it to your particular business and website. Let’s start by examining the most basic data - the average visitors to your site on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

These figures are the most accurate measure of your website’s activity. It would appear on the surface that the more traffic you see recorded, the better you can assume your website is doing, but this is an inaccurate perception. You must also look at the behavior of your visitors once they come to your website to accurately gauge the effectiveness of your site.

There is often a great misconception about what is commonly known as “hits” and what is really effective, quality traffic to your site. Hits simply means the number of information requests received by the server. If you think about the fact that a hit can simply equate to the number of graphics per page, you will get an idea of how overblown the concept of hits can be. For example, if your homepage has 15 graphics on it, the server records this as 15 hits, when in reality we are talking about a single visitor checking out a single page on your site. As you can see, hits are not useful in analyzing your website traffic.

The more visitors that come to your website, the more accurate your interpretation will become. The greater the traffic is to your website, the more precise your analysis will be of overall trends in visitor behavior.

The aim is to use the web traffic statistics to figure out how well or how poorly your site is working for your visitors. One way to determine this is to find out how long on average your visitors spend on your site. If the time spent is relatively brief, it usually indicates an underlying problem. Then the challenge is to figure out what that problem is.

It could be that your keywords are directing the wrong type of visitors to your website, or that your graphics are confusing or intimidating, causing the visitor to exit rapidly. Use the knowledge of how much time visitors are spending on your site to pinpoint specific problems, and
after you fix those problems, continue to use time spent as a gauge of how effective your fix has been.

Additionally, web traffic stats can help you determine effective and ineffective areas of your website. If you have a page that you believe is important, but visitors are exiting it rapidly, that page needs attention. You could, for example, consider improving the link to this page by
making the link more noticeable and enticing, or you could improve the look of the page or the ease that your visitors can access the necessary information on that page.

If, on the other hand, you notice that visitors are spending a lot of time on pages that you think are less important, you might consider moving some of your sales copy and marketing focus to that particular page.

As you can see, these statistics will reveal vital information about the effectiveness of individual pages, and visitor habits and motivation. This is essential information to any successful Internet marketing campaign.

Your website undoubtedly has exit pages, such as a final order or contact form. This is a page you can expect your visitor to exit rapidly. However, not every visitor to your site is going to find exactly what he or she is lookingfor, so statistics may show you a number of different exit pages. This is normal unless you notice a exit trend on a particular page that is not intended as an exit page. In the case that a significant percentage of visitors are exiting your website on a page not designed for that purpose, you must closely examine that particular page to
discern what the problem is. Once you pinpoint potential weaknesses on that page, minor modifications in content or graphic may have a significant impact on the keeping visitors moving through your site instead of exiting at the wrong page.

After you have analyzed your visitor statistics, it’s time to turn to your keywords and phrases. Notice if particular keywords are directing a specific type of visitor to your site. The more targeted the visitor - meaning that they find what they are looking for on your site, and even
better, fill out your contact form or make a purchase - the more valuable that keyword is.

However, if you find a large number of visitors are being directed - or should I say misdirected - to your site by a particular keyword or phrase, that keyword demands adjustment. Keywords are vital to bringing quality visitors to your site who are ready to do business with you. Close
analysis of the keywords your visitors are using to find your site will give you a vital understanding of your visitor’s needs and motivations.

Finally, if you notice that users are finding your website by typing in your company name, break open the champagne! It means you have achieved a significant level of brand recognition, and this is a sure sign of burgeoning success.

If you like this tip or want more information on starting your own homebased business please visit my website at www.workathomemom247.com

Enthusiasm

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great Idea For A Blog?

Because there are so many WAHM blogs and web sites about WAHM blogs on the internet, it can be tough to distinguish your blogging web site from all of the others. Whether you are starting up a new web site aimed at other WAHM bloggers or whether you are looking to make your existing blogging site more distinctive, the key to building and maintaining a site that will capture the interest and attention of the WAHM blogging community is finding your niche.

If you can fill a unique need in a way that no other WAHM web site does, you’ll be able to build a lasting readership among web surfers. Once you have discovered a niche, you will still have a lot to do, but finding your place in the blogosphere is the place to begin.

Every great blogging web site starts with a great idea, and you can’t build a successful site that will last without one. There are many great WAHM sites aimed at today’s bloggers, and competition for the attention of this growing demographic is fierce. To make your blogging web site stand out from the pack, you will need to offer something that no other site is currently offering, or you will need to do the same thing that an already popular site does but in a more impressive or valuable way.

One way to discover an ideal model for your blogging web site is to look at the sites that have successfully captured a blogging audience already to determine if you can appropriate some of their strategies to help realize your vision. Of course, you will also need to add a unique flair to your project in order to stand apart from your competition.

Many people agree that the web sites that do the best in today’s market are the sites that have the most personality. The fiercely individual surfers who are bloggers are a demographic that responds especially strongly to personality, so consider how you can give your site a unique and attractive feeling by lending your own voice and sensibility to your site’s design and content.

Once you have a great idea for your site, have pinpointed a special niche that you are well equipped to fill, and have infused the site with personality, the next step is figuring out how to get the word out to bloggers.  In the long run, a great idea just isn’t enough to propel your blogging web site to success. You will need to draft a smart and realistic marketing plan in order to draw readers to your site. Once you hook a blogger, your great content will keep them coming back, but it is vital to get that first glance or your site won’t have a chance to shine.

For more information on being a work at home mom or building your own website or blog, please see my website at http://www.workathomemom247.com/Build-Your-Own-Website-Or-Blog.php

Low Cost Ways To Advertise Your Business

1)  Blogs - They are free, easy to set up and people love them.  Most businesses, schools, students and just regular folks now have blogs.  It is an easy way to get your message across to millions.

2)  Write articles for Internet newsletters - If you write well, you can get articles accepted in many online newsletters.  When the article runs you will essentially be trading content (your article) for free advertising (your web address and email on the article).  Be sure to submit them to the top 15 article directories.

3)  Business cards and business literature - Every piece of literature, all print ads, business cards, stationary and every email you write should contain your business’ web address.  It is now so common to do so that people will assume you do not have a web site, if they do not see it listed on your company literature.

4)  Joining local chambers of commerce. Small local chambers generally actively promote their members. Many small business owners get a large amount of their business through the chambers. 

5)  Free seminars: Offer to speak about the Internet and ecommerce to as many local groups as you can think of. I have spoken to small business groups, chamber groups,  and trade organizations. None of these groups pay for speakers so they are generally pleased to have volunteers. Plan ahead. They tend to book speakers about a year in advance.
 
6)  BBBOnline – Join the Better Business Bureau Online program. It’s just good business to be recognized by the Better Business Bureau.

If you would like more tips on how to get free or low cost advertising please visit my website at http://www.workathomemom247.com/Advertising-Your-Business.php

Turn Your Hobby Into A WAHM Business.

Creating a home based business out of something that you love to do is the best thing to do if you want to be successful. There is nothing better than getting paid to do something that you love. There are many options that you could try to turn your hobbies into a lucrative home based business as a work at home mom (wahm).

1. You could create and sell arts and crafts. Do you make quilts? Quilts are big money these days, people are going back to wanting homemade items that come from America.

2. Sell antiques and collectible. You can do this several ways. Sell them online or set up at flea markets. Maybe even get a booth in an antique mall or at county fairs.

3. If you love cosmetics you could sell them through direct selling or make your own (know all the laws and health regulations before you make your own products).  These are often sold under what is called the Home Party Plan Business.

4. Teach something! Do you know how to do something that others would be willing to pay you money to learn?  Piano, singing, a sport, dance, and more. Whatever you are good at and can you teach it to someone else?

5. If you have a ton of knowledge about specific items, like antiques or stamps, you could start a home based appraisal business. Do it for local antique stores, auctioneers, or private estates.

6. Do you love animal? Why not breed them or start a grooming home based business. Or if you have the skills and patience, maybe you could train them for show.

7. Do you love beer or wine?  Many, top wine and beer companies were actually started in someone’s basement.  Yours could be a next award winner.

So, if you have a passion for a hobby or something else that you love doing, why not get paid to do it? It should not be hard to turn your hobby into a home based business.  Do a little research on what others are doing in your area of interest and copy what they are doing, no need to reinvent the wheel.

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