How to convince website visitors to stay on your website in 0.05 seconds

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• convince website visitors, website visitors

Website Visitors

While we were all taught not to judge based on appearances, when it comes to web pages, people still discern between those based on their very first interaction. In fact, according to a series of studies, it only takes 0.05 seconds to your website visitors to decide if they remain on it or leave. And be sure, once a visitor has left, it’s almost impossible to bring them back.

Why? Well, people judge a source’s credibility and their perceptions are largely influenced by the way in which a web page presents itself. The simple explanation behind this sort of behavior is that regardless of any given search query (unless it’s rather odd and obscure) there will be numerous results that fit their specific search terms. In this scenario, you can’t afford to convince your potential website visitors that you’re a reliable and legitimate source.

The Internet consumer today is ruthless and cuts deep when they make their decisions. So why risk it? To convince website visitors that your website is worthy under 0.05 seconds, follow the advice below.

Security

It’s obvious from the beginning if your website is secure or not, thanks to HTTPS. If visitors don’t see the “S” termination, you might end up losing visitors in an instant.

To make your visitors remain on your page, you must pay extra attention to website security. The internet is still a wild place and since your website is connected to it, you have to improve that coordinate as fast as possible. Unsecured websites are a threat to potential visitors. The can easily send and receive unencrypted data, data that can be used for less orthodox purposes if it reaches the hands of the wrong person or entity. Secure your website if you want to be perceived as a reliable online entity. Still not convinced that your website needs higher web security standards? Read why such features are mandatory, below.

• First, let your web visitors know that their data is safe when visiting your website;
• Protect your website from malware;
• Stop phishing attempts via your website – it damages consumer trust;
• Boost SEO ranking;
• Protect your business from hacking attempts and endangering sensitive data.

One of the simplest ways to ensure that your website is secure and let your visitors know it from the beginning is by using HTTPS. While this may be seen as the most rudimental way of offering website security, it works in all its simplicity. HTTPS is the encrypted and more secure web navigation method that deters hackers from sealing credit card details, login details, and other sensitive data that your visitors might use on your website.

Fast-loading pages

Slow page speed is very likely to cause potential visitors to exit your website before even seeing its’ design and content. Let’s face it: we live in an era of speed and Internet users are impatient. If it takes 10 seconds only for your website to load, you’re in big trouble. When visitors have to wait too long for a page to load, they make emotional decisions. Anger and frustration emerge and they exit the page in a matter of milliseconds.

They then click on another result that may have a faster loading response. And the offer is quite generous on search engines. The maximum amount a user is willing to wait for a page to lead is 5 seconds so, if yours takes longer, this should be the first issue to look into. And that is the data coming
from a Google research from 2012. In 2019, people might be even less patient when it comes to webpage load speed.

Plus, when your website load speed is too slow, people are unlikely to even reach your page since it affects SEO performance.

Improve website design

Almost 95% of the negative website feedback received by website owners was design-related. Of course, this calls for modern and clean web design.

Does your website look like it belongs to 2002? Well, it might be the perfect time to change that and make it look more contemporary and cleaner. Fonts have to be either modern, either timeless for the expected results. Avoid fonts like Comic Sans at all costs since these may make your website look, well, like a joke. Same with font color. You want to make sure that it is contrasting to the background, but keep it professional.

All pictures should have a modern and clean look, the colors used should be as neutral as possible.

Another modern design element that will convince your visitors to stay on the page in less than 0.05 seconds is the ratio of the height and width of the screen. Opt for modern 16:9 screen ratio to achieve a modern web design of your page.

Mobile-friendly websites

Being able to see online content on mobile devices with the same quality as the desktop version shows is important for more than 85% of Internet users today. If your website visitors have to pinch and zoom on mobile pages to see the information on your website, say goodbye to that visitor forever. Responsive mobile pages are a new standard in the industry. And if you don’t have such features, you will lose plenty of visitors.

Only think of the amount of information that people search for nowadays by using their mobile devices. It’s common sense that you should have responsive mobile-friendly website pages.

Attractive content and layout

Well, you should think a bit further than the 0.05 seconds that it takes a visitor to decide if they stay on your page or not. After that decision is made, make sure to keep your visitor engaged by offering attractive website layout and content.

For instance, if your website’s dropdown menus lead to other dropdown menus and so on, you can say goodbye to those leads. This is unattractive and complicated when it comes to webpage layout and you should avoid this. It only brings frustration and anger to potential visitors. Plus, if the content on your page is poorly-written, unengaging and irrelevant, whoops, you lost another visitor!