One of the biggest headaches webmasters face is getting their website visitors to stay on their website and ultimately take the desired action.
Due to the sheer volume of websites competing for the same visitors, it’s important to make sure they stay on your website and not go to your competitor.
An average visitor will stay for about five (5) seconds on your website. If you don’t provide what he wants, he will surely leave your website. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen to you.
What you need to keep visitors on your website is to pass the five (5) second test. I suggest you use the seven (7) steps below.
1. Define the goal of your website.
You have to determine what you want your website to achieve. Do you want your visitors to subscribe to your newsletter? Do you want them to buy your product? Or do you want them to click on your AdSense?
You have to define what your main goal is and strive to make your website focused on that goal.
2. Select to test.
Identify the typical or likely user of your site. Ask someone you know who fits that profile to act as a tester.
3. Instruct the tester.
Tell the tester that you will see a particular page for 5 seconds. Ask the tester to try to remember everything he sees in that short period.
4. Show your website to the tester.
Physically meet the tester and show them your website. Remember to make sure you don’t see the page for more than 5 seconds.
5. Write down the findings.
Ask the test person to write down everything they can remember about the page.
6. Full report.
When the evaluator is done with that, ask 2 questions to assess whether he or she was able to accomplish the task defined in step 1. Give the evaluator a chance to answer fully and perhaps write down their findings.
7. Analyze the results.
Collect the findings noted in steps 5 and 6 and review them carefully. If the tester easily remembers the main goal and knows how to do what they are supposed to do on the page, they have been successful.
If the tester is having trouble identifying the goal, isn’t clear on how to proceed, or only identified part of the features, they know they have to change something on the page.
