How to capture your online audience

I think we can all agree that these days, our online attention span is short. We become distracted easily and with super-fast internet speed are able to leave a page as quickly as we accessed it. That is why it’s imperative that you make your website captivating enough for your audience to stay. With time against you, there really is not a lot of time to convince your visitor to stick around.

Read these tips on reducing your bounce rate…

Design
Design is make or break in the world of the web. It’s the first thing your visitor is going to see when they land on your page so they need to be impressed.
-    Make the name and logo of your website memorable. Think of companies like Nike and Coca-Cola who have branded themselves with the use of their name and logo. They should stand out but not be too obtrusive.
-    Having a main feature on your website is a good idea. It could be a large image or something simple like a block of colour to highlight an area. It can be anything that is going to stick in your visitor’s mind.
-    How easy is it to get around your site? A poorly designed site will send visitors packing so make sure your site navigation is up to scratch.

Headings and content
To get your audience to read your content, you’re going to have to entice them with an attractive headline. The two need to work with each other in perfect harmony.
-    Make it snappy and to the point. Readers need to know what the content is about at a glance.
-    Ask a question in your heading that your audience might have in mind. This means they will want to read on to find out the answer.
-    Use phrases as if you are about to start a conversation. This could be statements that are intriguing and spark discussion. Write as if you are actually talking to your reader.
-    Be creative and clever with your wording. If you are trying to promote something then you need to go beyond the obvious and display a message. Examples include using humour, popular reference or a metaphor.

What you have to offer
You need to make it easily available to your reader what exactly it is that you have to offer. You need to make the audience do what you want them to do. They need to be prompted by what they see on your site.
-    Make it available for your visitor to access products and services from your homepage. If they have to spend time looking around for something then chances are they’re going to get fed up and leave your site.
-    Your audience should have a very good idea of what you have to offer at a glance and know what you’re about as a company or individual almost instantly.

Imagery
An image speaks a thousand words as they say so it’s really important that you choose relevant and powerful images for your site.
-    Make your image tell a story. Match it to the content so that your visitor gets an aesthetic experience while reading your content.
-    Your images should display correctly on the page and be aligned with the rest of your content.

Interactivity
-    Making your site interactive will draw your audience in as they see it as a chance to get involved. By having connections to Facebook, Twitter and an interactive e-mail page, it will make you seem approachable and contactable. If there is sign of contact, then this will instantly put your visitor off.

Giveaways and competitions
Everyone loves the idea of winning something or getting something for free. It is guaranteed to instantly hold their attention.
-    A freebie could include a software tool or desktop wallpaper.
-    Increasing your online audience with a contest is a great way to gain interest. Make it easy to enter and share and the word will get around in no time. This is another example of getting your visitor interactively involved. The more creative, the better, as it will really capture your audience’s imagination.

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