The Key Website Metrics You Need to Know
Understanding how your website is performing can be a tricky business. Without clear metrics, it’s difficult to know whether your site is effectively reaching your audience, generating leads, or driving sales. Metrics are crucial because they provide tangible data that helps you see what’s working and what isn’t. By tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), you can make informed decisions that improve your website’s effectiveness and ultimately help your business grow.
So, what data should we be paying attention to when it comes to your website? With so much information available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To make it easier, we’ve narrowed it down to the top six metrics that every business should be checking regularly. These key performance indicators (KPIs) will give you a clear picture of how your website is performing and where there’s room for improvement. Let’s dive into the metrics that matter most.
1) Traffic Source
Understanding where your website traffic is coming from is essential to improving your online presence. Traffic sources tell you how visitors are finding your site—whether it’s through search engines, social media, direct visits, or referral links from other websites. By tracking this metric, you can see which channels are driving the most visitors and which ones need more attention. For example, if most of your traffic is coming from search engines, you know your SEO efforts are working. On the other hand, if social media isn’t bringing in much traffic, it might be time to rethink your strategy there.
2) Page Views
Page views give you an idea of how much interest there is in your website’s content. This metric shows how many times individual pages on your site have been viewed by visitors. High page views can indicate that your content is engaging and that users are exploring your site. However, it’s important to look deeper—if users are visiting many pages but not taking action (like making a purchase or filling out a contact form), it might be a sign that your site needs better calls to action or more streamlined navigation. Tracking page views helps you understand which parts of your site are performing well and which areas might need improvement.
3) Bounce Rate
Bounce rate is a crucial metric that tells you how many visitors leave your website after viewing just one page. A high bounce rate could indicate that users aren’t finding what they’re looking for or that your site isn’t engaging enough to encourage further exploration. It might also point to issues with your website’s design, content, or load time. On the other hand, a low bounce rate suggests that visitors are sticking around and exploring more of your site, which is typically a good sign. Monitoring your bounce rate helps you understand user behaviour and identify areas where your website might need improvement to keep visitors engaged.
4) Conversions
Conversions are one of the most important metrics for measuring your website’s success. A conversion occurs when a visitor completes a desired action on your site, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form. Tracking conversions allows you to see how effectively your website is driving these key actions. It’s not just about attracting visitors; it’s about turning those visitors into customers or leads. By monitoring your conversion rate, you can identify which pages or elements of your site are working well and which might need optimisation to improve results.
5) Page Speed
Page speed is a critical metric that affects both user experience and search engine rankings. It measures how quickly your website loads and is ready for visitors to use. Slow-loading pages can frustrate users, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversions. Additionally, search engines like Google consider page speed when ranking websites, so a slow site can hurt your visibility online. Monitoring and optimizing page speed ensures that your website provides a smooth, efficient experience for users, keeping them engaged and improving your chances of achieving higher rankings in search results.
6) Device Type
Knowing what devices people use to visit your website is really important. This metric tells you whether visitors are on desktops, tablets, or mobile phones. Since more people are browsing on mobile devices, it’s crucial that your website works well on all screens. If most of your visitors are on mobile, but your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be losing out on potential customers. By tracking device type, you can make sure your website looks and works great no matter how people access it, improving their experience and keeping them engaged.
How to Track These Metrics
Tracking these key metrics doesn’t have to be complicated. Tools like Google Analytics are great for keeping an eye on traffic sources, bounce rates, and conversions. It’s free and provides a wealth of information about how people interact with your website. For understanding how users navigate your site, tools like Hotjar offer heatmaps and session recordings, showing you where visitors click and how they move through your pages. This insight can help you make your site more user-friendly.
When it comes to page speed, Google Speed Insights is a handy tool that analyses your site’s loading times and gives suggestions on how to make it faster. By using these tools, you can get a clear picture of how your website is performing and where there’s room for improvement.
If you work with Squee, we’ll help get all of this set up, making it easier for you to track and improve your website’s performance.
Ready to Improve Your Website?
If you want to ensure your website is performing at its best, get in touch with Squee today. We’ll work with you to set up these crucial metrics and help you make informed decisions that drive real results for your business. Let’s make your website work harder for you!