Conversion Rates, how high should I aim?

[fordio]

I've just put my first site online which aims to review and sell software in a niche. I'm guessing that software should be a big seller on the internet but what sort of conversion rates should I be aiming for? Is 3% acceptable or should downloadable software do better?

[ronhelor]

Hi
Here's what I do to establish my conversion rate:

1. buy some Google Adword and get traffic to my site
2. After 1000 visitors, see how many boughet the product or what ever it is you want them to do (fill out a form, downlad something etc.)
3. Try to tweak my web site to do better with the next 1000 visitors
4. work on getting additional traffic sources.

That's the process in a nutshell.
You can't really say what's the conversion rate of your site untill you send actual traffic and find out!

Ron

[Rosalind Gardner]

Hello Fordio,

Ron's advice is good... although you may be able to establish your conversion rate with as little as 500 visitors and save a couple of bucks.

Too, what you really need to aim for is subscribers to your newsletter as most folks won't convert to customers during the first visit to your site.

Keep sharing good information, establish a trust relationship and build a following. That has advantages over and above just ROI.

Cheers,
Ros

[fordio]

Thanks guys. I was just wondering as I have had a couple of hundred visitors but no sales! I think I need to change something. So far I only have a couple of leads to follow up.