Picture this: You’ve spent days and nights creating an awesome website and are excited to share it with the world. But then, you notice that visitors are bouncing off your website faster than a boomerang. Ouch! If you’re struggling to keep your visitors interested and engaged, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this blog post, we’ve got some great tips to help you keep your visitors hooked, and make sure they don’t disappear faster than a drop bear in the outback.

1. Invest in Good Design

Of course, we were going to suggest this since it’s kind of our jam. But hear us out! Did you know that 38% of users will stop interacting with a website if the layout is unattractive? But think about it. Would you want to stay on a website that looks like a ’90s Windows 95 PowerPoint presentation? No thank you! 

Think about the difference between an op-shop packed to the brim with ugly objects you can barely touch without knocking things over vs. the glory of a shiny Sephora store that invites you to test and sniff. You want to hang out. You’re undeniably hooked. 

The high-quality design is essential for enticing users to stick around because websites are visual spaces too. A beautiful, thoughtful website makes users want to look more. Professional design doesn’t have to cost the earth but it is always worth the investment. 

2. Content is King

What do people come to your website for? For information, of course! So, make sure you’re giving them something worth reading. Nobody wants to read a boring essay, so spice it up! Make your content engaging with fun headings and graphics that will make people want to stick around. Don’t forget to update your content regularly, or visitors will think they’ve seen everything you have to offer. 

3. Social Proof is Queen

Social proof quickly establishes legitimacy, thereby making visitors more likely to stick around. Use customer testimonials, reviews, awards, screenshots, “featured in” sections and social media posts to provide social proof. Display them prominently on your website, so visitors can see them easily. Social proof is like a magnet, and it will attract visitors to stay on your website longer.

4. Consider Interactivity

There are lots of ways to provide your visitors with the opportunity to interact with your website. People like to click buttons and feel involved in the scroll. Here are some ideas for adding engaging interactivity to your website:

• Playful buttons
• Hover features e.g. hover to reveal a secret message
• Arrange information in carousels 
• GIFs and videos
• A puzzle, hidden clue, Easter egg hunt or riddle game
• Moveable click and drag images (Squarespace and Showit)
• Animations that appear on hover, scroll or load

5. Less is More: Don’t Overwhelm with Text

While it’s important to have valuable content on your website, it’s equally important not to overwhelm visitors with too much text. Large blocks of text can be daunting and difficult to read, and visitors may lose interest quickly. Instead, try breaking up text into smaller paragraphs, and use bullet points to make information easier to digest. Additionally, use images and videos to supplement your content, as visual aids can help break up text and keep visitors engaged. Remember, less is often more, so keep it simple, engaging, and easy to read.

6. Link ‘Em Up

Linking to other pages on your website is like a never-ending treasure hunt. You don’t want your visitors to just land on one page and leave, right? Guide them to other pages on your website by using internal linking. Not only will this keep them on your website for longer, but it will also help boost your website’s SEO. Double win!

7. Don’t Ignore Mobile Users

Do you know how people feel when they’re trying to navigate a website that isn’t mobile-friendly? It’s like trying to walk through a maze with a blindfold on! Make sure your website is mobile-friendly to keep those mobile users hooked. Make it easy to navigate and visually appealing. No one wants to zoom in or out to read your content!

8. Slow Websites Are A No-Go

If your website takes forever to load, visitors won’t hang around waiting! Use website optimisation tools to make sure your website loads quickly. You can also remove any unnecessary plugins or widgets that may slow down your website. Speeding up your website’s loading time will keep visitors from leaving in frustration.

9. Call-To-Actions Are Your Best Friend

What’s the point of having a website if visitors don’t take action? Use catchy calls-to-action (CTAs) throughout your website to guide visitors to the next step. This will help to hold their hand through the site rather than leave them to navigate it alone. Whether it’s subscribing to a newsletter or purchasing a product, make sure your CTAs are prominent and relevant to the content on the page.

10. Chat Them Up

Use a live chat feature to provide visitors with real-time support and assistance. When visitors have questions or concerns, live chat allows them to reach out to you quickly without having to leave your website. Not only will this keep visitors on your website longer, but it will also help build trust and establish a relationship with potential customers.

11. Give Them An Offer They Can’t Refuse

Offer your visitors something valuable that they can’t resist! Maybe it’s a free guide, a discount on their first purchase, or a free trial of your product. Whatever it is, make sure it’s relevant and valuable to your visitors. Incentivising your visitors will keep them engaged, and they’ll want to stick around to see what else you have to offer.

12. Keep it Fresh

Finally, always stay on top of your website’s performance. Use website analytics tools to track visitor behaviour and identify areas of your website that are performing well and areas that need improvement. Keep refining and improving your website, making it more engaging and appealing to visitors. And always remember, a website is never truly complete, there’s always something to update or improve!

Enticing people to stay on your website is like keeping your kids entertained: it’s a bit of a challenge, but it’s worth it in the end. By spicing up your website design, creating fun and engaging content, and keeping things fresh and relevant, you can keep those visitors hooked like a fish on a line.

Remember: your website is like a living, breathing thing, so don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Keep your website fun, engaging, and relevant, and before you know it, you’ll have visitors sticking around longer than a koala on a eucalyptus tree.