Very Frustrated

[Former_Member]

My bounce rate is 90%. I need some type of critique or advice to help my shop. I believe I have very nice items and I love what I do.

[Former_Member]

Yes, you do have nice items! My first piece of advice would be to put a link in each listing that links back to a section in your shop. For example, for my earring listings I put a link tonmy earrings section and say to click on it to see other earring designs. That will more likely get ppl to stick around for at least a little bit! Also, maybe look at how ppl are coming to your store. If most of them are coming from google searches that aren't really relevant to your products, that could be why.
I just took a peek at your tags and they seem to be okay (not that I'm an expert). You might want to try adding more to your descriptions, though. Add a bit more story behind them, perhaps, to get ppl more intrigued. Have your bounce rates always been 90% oe has something changed? I don't know what a good bounce rate is, but I've heard that as long as it improves (or stays steady if it is good) then it's ok

[Former_Member]

My bounce rate has been increasing. I think it used to be around 50. Im very bad at writing descriptions, I'm working on putting a link that goes back to my shop, but with 148 items it's getting overwhelming. I'm loosing steam with all the work I've put into my 3 etsy shops over the years.

[Former_Member]

what's a bounce rate?

[Former_Member]

Um, I'm new to Etsy and am learning as I go. This is the first time I've heard the term 'bounce rate'. What does it mean? How does it work for or against us?

[Former_Member]

Ok.y,so I have had NO sales so take my advice with a grain of salt!
I think your pictures are GREAT. Your descriptions are good but you might want to space out you key points instead of a big paragraph with no breaks. Just a bit eaiser on the eyes. Also, you show your product in a box. I would assume it comes gift ready? Maybe mention that. Gift wrapped and you would be willing to ship to the reciptiant? Mention how that would save shipping for the buyer. Also, you tags could then say Gift or Gift Wrapped. Include a not for that person and NOT the bill? Just ideas. Salt.
Any ideas for my shop?

[Former_Member]

I believe when it comes to your Google Analytics bounce rate the lower the better. When someone comes to your site and loses interest quickly and leaves that increases your bounce rate. Please correct me if I am wrong but this is the way I understood it.

[Former_Member]

I agree with honeyhive, that you need to put a link in your listing that brings people to other pages to keep them interested. I started to do this and I can see the difference. my bounce rate was 60%. it dropped down to 50% since I added links to other pages I think they might like.

Bounce rate has to do with google analytics. bounce rate means: how many people come to your sight and leave right away. the longer they stay, the lower the % rate.

[Former_Member]

Hi,

I'm new, so excuse my ignorance. How do you see your bounce rate? Any advice would be most appreciated.

Kim

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the tip on the linking to reduce bounce rate. I'll try this and see if sales improve.

[Former_Member]

ya, im slowly working on that but with 148 items its gonna take me a little bit.

[Former_Member]

I am sooo frustrated. I have many items but rare sales. Anyone who sees my shop just loves my work and I have rock bottom prices. I just don't get it. Help...anyone. I understand there is a portrait team but I can't find it. Marilyn

[Former_Member]

http://www.etsy.com/teams/9314/art-critique
http://www.etsy.com/teams/8526/art-is-us
http://www.etsy.com/teams/6949/the-fine-arts-group
http://www.etsy.com/teams/9198/portraits

[Former_Member]

What does analytics tell you are the top ten keywords that lead people to your shop? Are they relevant to what you're actually selling? If not, that might explain the bounce rate. In the fist week, I had someone navigate to my home page through the key word "chainmail" (I sell soap and washcloths). The best I can figure is that on of my favorite shops sells chainmail and that popped up on someone's google search.

I did notice that when I started promoting pages on the site with multiple links (like my shop home page with daily features) that my bounce rate dropped a bit.

[Former_Member]

I would take a look at your prices. $10.00 is alot to pay for a hemp bracelet. I just bought 3 not too long ago, and they were $3.00 apeice with free shipping...

[EviesToolEmporium]

rachinator87-
I can see all the time and effort you have put into your shop over time! I was giving the bounce rate a little thought! Do you think some of it could be that you were in the forums a lot more and more of us where clicking on your shop and items when you where working on your titles, tags and descriptions? I'm not sure how much of an impact this would make?!?
How has setting up your shop by color been working out for you?
Michelle-

[Former_Member]

might have something to do with your tags too. If the tags are off, meaning too broad or not appropriate for the item, people think the item is something its not. For example, if you put star wars and there is nothing related to star wars in the item...I know this is a dumb example but eBay sellers sometimes use these really broad terms to get people to the shop. How do I know, eBay sellers explained the "why". Also, I have a friend in the SEO world. It's quite interesting to learn how fast it changes. Hope it helps

[Former_Member]

Is Google Analytics still factoring in your visits to your own shop? I haven't gotten around to fixing that for myself, so maybe that's part of it. Either way, I get your frustration. It's been a hard season!

[Former_Member]

Ok let me try and answer everyones questions,
Evies: I changed my shop to color coded hopeing it would help the bounce rate(then it was 80% now its 90%) so no changing it by color didn't help even though people said it "looked" better but then other people said it looked "blah" so im scratching that and now my shop is back to semi chaotic mode becuase I don't know how to organize my 148 items.
LitKnits: I have taken out my own views from google analytic awhile ago. My tags are not off to my knowledge, i sell a variety of hemp macrame jewelry so i tag with hemp, macrame, pendants, beads, bohemian, hippie, modern, etc etc to describe my piece with colors and what not.
And i group my bounce rate usually by week, so weeks when i didn't ask for critiques was when it was high.

homemadewisconson: I think you are looking at the 10 bracelets i have(I think i only have 2) and that's becuase of the type and quality of bead I have on them, If beads are expensive then the piece is going to be expensive, the majority of my bracelets are around $6.00. Selling a hemp bracelet at 3 a piece with free shipping is not a reasonable price for me and my shop becuase of many many many factors that go into making jewelry from scratch.

[EviesToolEmporium]

rachinator87-

I'm glad you tried it by color! It made your shop very visually appealing!

As far as organizing your 148 items...have you thought about doing it by your section titles? Pulling all your necks together, all your bracelets together etc? I know it would take some work!

A small idea-add the word hemp in front of necklace, bracelet, anklet on your sections!

Everywhere I go right now I see hemp anklets on everyone! You have a hot trend on your hands!

Michelle-

[Former_Member]

KRAYV, I am glad you mentioned the thing about favorite shops and keywords! I have been wondering why some of my top keywords are things that have nothing to do with my shop! My bounce rate is also really high, so I might try adding some links in my listings. I have worked on my tags and keywords and noticed a good increase since then!

[Former_Member]

Hi all. I'm new to this team, but have been on etsy for awhile now. My sales are extremely low...I mean like 10 in over a year! I show a 58% bounce rate, but no sales. What am I doing wrong? I really sympathize with ArtByMarilyn. It's probably not the bounce rate alone but several factors. I don't go into the forums or chats because other team members have told me how ugly the climate can get, and I avoid conflict like the plague.

[Former_Member]

How do you take your views off of google analytics? Thanks! Lucy

[Former_Member]

I would appreciate hearing from rachinator87 and artbymarilyn if you guys manage to get on top of this problem.

[Former_Member]

you click on traffic sources and also check out seller handbook info on taste test and other filters (I have the link somewhere...)