8 Practical Steps to Keep Your Customers Stay Longer on Website

Did you know the average visitor spends only 45 seconds on a website? This statistic is shocking, particularly when you think about how quickly a user can form an opinion about your website – just 50 milliseconds. That’s merely 0.05 seconds, equivalent to the blink of an eye or a quick snap of the fingers. That’s why keeping your customers stay longer on your website is crucial.

In this article, we are going to share 7 actionable tips to help you achieve this goal. By the end of this post, you’ll know how to create a sticky website, reduce bounce rates, and increase conversions. Let’s get started!

1. Fulfill your headline’s promise

Getting customers to click on your headlines is just the first step. To keep them on your website longer, your content must deliver on the title’s promise.

Don’t create headlines that overpromise what your content can’t deliver. Even the most compelling headline crafted by a skilled writer won’t benefit your business if the actual content falls short of expectations.

So, how can you ensure your content fulfills the headline’s promise? Here are four ways to do so:

Be specific and accurate 

Avoid using sensational or misleading language in your headline. Instead, focus on making a specific promise that your content can deliver.

For example, if your headline reads “10 Ways to Boost Your Sales by 50%,” your content should provide exactly that – 10 actionable tips to help customers increase their sales by 50%.

Use attention-grabbing but relevant images 

Incorporate high-quality images that support your headline and content. This will help set the tone and expectations for the rest of the article.

For instance, if your headline is “The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Successful Online Business,” use an image of a business owner working on a laptop or a graph showing online business growth.

Use clear and concise language 

Avoid using jargon or overly technical terms that might confuse customers. Use simple, clear language that resonates with your target audience.

For example, if your blog post is titled “10 Essential Metrics to Track for E-commerce Success,” use language that’s easy to understand and avoid technical terms that might overwhelm online store owners who are new to data analysis.

Deliver on promises with actionable tips 

Provide actionable tips and steps that customers can implement. Make sure they leave with something useful.

Example: If the headline is “Optimize Your Website for Conversions in 7 Days,” each step should offer clear and actionable advice on how to improve website design, content, and user experience to increase sales and engagement.

When coming up with headlines, it’s important to strike a balance between being catchy and being honest. I saw a lot of articles promise “revolutionary” techniques or “overnight success,” but often just serve up basic advice.

While this may attract initial clicks, it often results in high bounce rates and frustrated customers. Remember that the goal isn’t just clicks but providing real value to your audience. By doing so, you help your customers stay longer.

2. Create easy-to-scan content

Did you know that 38% of customers will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive? That’s right – over a third of your potential customers might leave your site simply because it’s hard to read or navigate. This is why creating scannable content is crucial for keeping visitors on your website longer.

Scannable content lets customers quickly find the information they’re looking for without getting lost in a sea of text. On the other hand, non-scannable content can be overwhelming and frustrating, often leading to higher bounce rates and lower engagement. Ensuring scannable content helps customers stay longer.

So, how can you make your content more scannable? Here are some practical tips:

Use headings and subheadings 

Break up your content into logical sections with clear, descriptive headings. This helps customers quickly identify the parts that interest them most. For example, you might use H2 tags for main sections and H3 tags for subsections.

Format important information 

Use bold, italics, or underlining to make key points stand out. But remember, less is more – overusing these formatting tools can make your content look cluttered. Try to highlight only the most crucial information.

Use bullet points and numbered lists 

These are great for presenting multiple ideas or steps in a concise, easy-to-read format. They break up large blocks of text and allow customers to scan through important points quickly.

Keep paragraphs short 

Aim for two to three sentences per paragraph. Shorter paragraphs are easier on the eyes and help prevent reader fatigue. If you write longer paragraphs, consider breaking them into smaller chunks.

Use images and infographics 

Visual elements make your content more attractive and help explain complex concepts more easily. They can break up text-heavy sections and provide a welcome break for your customers’ eyes. This, in turn, can help your customers stay longer.

3. Use call-to-action at the end of the post

Adding a strong call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your content can make a huge difference in keeping customers on your website. However, it’s essential to tailor your CTAs to the specific type of page they’re on. After all, you want to guide your customers on what to do next, and that next step varies depending on the page.

For Product or Service Pages

Encourage customers to take a concrete step towards purchasing. This could be as simple as “Leave your information for a consultation” or “Get a quote.” You can also offer a discount or promotion to sweeten the deal.

For Blog-Style Pages

Use CTAs to direct customers to related product pages or invite them to subscribe to your newsletter. You can also ask them to “Find out more” about a specific topic or “Read related articles.”

For Landing Pages

Since these pages are designed to convert visitors into customers, your CTAs should be clear and direct. Use action-oriented language like “Sign up now,” “Get started today,” or “Limited time offer – grab it now!”

For About Us or Contact Pages

Use CTAs to encourage customers to contact you or learn more about your company. This could be as simple as “Drop us a line” or “Meet our team.”

No matter what type of page you have, a great way to boost your CTA button’s effectiveness is by offering deals. Who doesn’t love a good deal? A discount or promotion can really motivate people!

If you are using Shopify, we highly recommend choosing BOGOS. This allows you to create exciting promotions that are hard to resist. With BOGOS, you can easily set up and manage promotions, ensuring customers see value in sticking around and exploring more of your site.

Another effective method is using a slide-in opt-in form. This form appears as the clients scrolls, grabbing their attention without being too pushy. It’s a great way to get sign-ups for newsletters or offers. Keep it simple and offer something valuable like a free e-book, a discount, or early access to new products.

Also, make your CTA buttons pop. Use bright colors and bold text, and place them where customers can easily see them. Link your CTA to relevant pages or products to improve the user experience. The aim is to help your customers stay longer and easily take the next step, ensuring they remain engaged with your content.

4. Use rich media in your post

Images and videos are powerful tools for capturing customers’ attention and conveying information quickly. Let’s explore how to use them effectively to keep them engaged on your website.

Images: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words 

Images are eye-catching and can break up text, making your content more digestible for customers. Here are some tips for using images effectively:

• Choose relevant, high-quality images that resonate with your audience. Stock photo sites like Unsplash or Pexels offer a wide range of free, professional images.
• Optimize your images for web use. Large file sizes can slow down your website, which might frustrate customers, so compress images using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh.
• Use alt text for all images. This helps with SEO and makes your content accessible to visually impaired users, enhancing the overall customer experience.
• Consider using infographics to present complex information in a visually appealing way. Tools like Canva or Venngage make it easy to create professional-looking infographics that can keep customers engaged.

Videos: Bringing Your Content to Life

Videos can significantly boost engagement and time spent on your website. Here’s how to use them effectively:

• Create short, attention-grabbing videos. Aim for 2-3 minutes or less to keep viewers engaged.
• Consider using video thumbnails that entice viewers to click play. You can create custom thumbnails using tools like Snapseed or Canva.
• Experiment with different video types, such as explainer videos, product demos, or behind-the-scenes content.
• Use AI-powered video creation tools like Synthesia or Lumen5 to produce professional-looking videos quickly without a big budget.
• Consider adding interactive elements to your videos using tools like H5P to add quizzes, hotspots, and other interactive features.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that informs and captivates your visitors.

5. Reduce page loading time

In today’s fast-paced digital world, every second counts. A swift-loading website isn’t just a nice-to-have feature; it’s crucial for keeping customers engaged and boosting conversion rates. Studies show that even a one-second delay in page load time can lead to a significant drop in their satisfaction and sales. 

So, how can you rev up your website’s speed to ensure customers stay longer?

Optimize Images

Large images can slow down your site. Try using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh (as mentioned above) to compress them without losing quality. If you’re on WordPress, plugins like WP Smush can automatically optimize your images when you upload them.

Implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN helps to speed up your site by distributing its content across multiple servers worldwide. This way, your site customers load content from the server nearest to them, reducing load times. Popular CDN services include Cloudflare and Akamai.

Minimize HTTP Requests

Every element on your webpage, like images, stylesheets, and scripts, requires an HTTP request. Reduce these requests by combining files, using CSS sprites, and inlining small CSS and JavaScript files. 

By optimizing these elements, you can help your customers stay longer on your site.

6. Suggest related content with an internal link

Think of it like being a friendly tour guide for your website. You wouldn’t just leave customers at one spot and walk away, right? Instead, you’d suggest other cool places they might want to check out next. That’s exactly what you’re doing with related content links.

There are different ways to add this feature to your website. If you’re using WordPress, you can find plugins that automatically suggest related posts.

One of the popular options is Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. This plugin uses a cool algorithm to find and display related content on your site. It’s super customizable, so you can choose how to display those posts.

Another common one is Contextual Related Posts. This plugin lets you showcase related posts and similar content in your RSS feed. It’s super easy to set up and offers plenty of options to customize how it looks and works.

7. Use exit intent popup

If your customers are about to leave your website, you still have one more chance to engage them. This is where exit intent popups come in handy. These popups appear when their mouse moves towards the close tab button, signaling they’re about to exit.

In that popup, you will present something that encourages your customer to stay on your website a bit longer. It can be:

• Mailing list subscription
• Exclusive discount offer 
• Group invitation 
• Webinar registration
• Freebie download (product, guide, or cheatsheet)
• Attractive deal

Exit intent popups give you a final opportunity to convert customers into leads before they leave your site. They are designed to be irresistible, often including a form where they can enter their email to access your offer.

How do you add exit intent popups in WordPress?

Here are a few plugins that can help:

• OptinMonster – creates & integrates popups easily, connects with your email marketing provider, and offers A/B testing to see which popups perform best.
• Sumo – a user-friendly interface that helps you design attractive popups and track their performance.
• Popup Maker – creates highly customizable popups that can be triggered by exit intent.
  

8. Add a live chat 

Last but not least, don’t overlook the importance of customer support, particularly features that allow customers to live chat. Real-time conversations helps them find quick solutions to any problems. This can reduce frustration and abandonment rates for your website.

Besides, live chat also provides practical insights into customer pain points and even boost sales through upselling opportunities. 

There are a wider range of tools available for you to add live chat to your website. However, remember to consider factors such as: budget, ease of use and some required features. A good live chat should at least have these features:

Customizable chat widget

A chat widget which can be customized helps you adjust the appearance to match your brand identity. Some customizable elements include: color scheme, greeting messages, ability to add your logo, etc.

File sharing

File sharing in live chat allows both agents and customers to exchange documents, images, or other files directly within the chat. It’s more convenient if your team needs to share product manuals, screenshots or receive customer documents.

Mobile support

When adding a live chat to your store, make sure that it has responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. It should also have push notifications for new chat requests. In doing so, your team can always stay up to date with latest messages.

Analytics and reporting

This feature provides closer look into your live chat performance and customer interactions. For example, you can measure chat volume statistics (daily, weekly, monthly), average response time and other chat activities.

If you are using Shopify, you can consider using MooseDesk, a comprehensive customer support solution with Live Chat, FAQ Builder and Helpdesk. Its live chat feature helps you engage with customers in real-time and solve any inquiries faster and easier. This can lead to improved customer satisfaction and ultimately, business growth. 

Conclusion

We hope you find this blog post useful for improving your website. By following these seven practical steps, you can help your customers stay longer on your site. 

Remember, engaging headlines, easy-to-scan content, clear CTAs, rich media, fast loading times, internal links, and exit intent popups are key to keeping visitors engaged. Implement these tips, and you’ll see a noticeable improvement in your website’s performance and customer retention.