Bounce rate variations with example on my site
 

Hi:

I would appreciate hearing people's opinions about bounce rate and how it depends on site layout. Below, I am pasting two versions of the page. It is same content.

1. Old version . This is how the page looks (all posts on site) before I've changed the layout. Bounce rate was stable and between 32 and 37%

2. New version. This is new page layout. As soon as I've changed a look of the post pages, bounce rate went between 64 and 68%. Obviously, huge difference.

What do you think, what is the reason?

I think that visitors coming to site don;t have a feeling that site is big and they go away. Also, the new version has to be scrolled down more compared to old version.

thanks
1. OLD Version :

https://s15.postimg.org/tp2ucza7f/old.jpg

2. NEW Version:

https://s15.postimg.org/bkztscciz/new.jpg

Dunno fuck all about bounce rates n stuff but that 'Toilet Slave' thing on version 2 is really hot and is making me think about getting into bondage ! :thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Recheck your bounce rates and break them down please by mobile and non mobile surfers.

That was the next thing I want to do because an old version of site used the mobile plugin. But will do after I send you an email regarding your other post about e-mail. Please tell me, to what email address I can contact you

Old version
Bounce rate mobile: 35.66
Bounce rate tablet: 38.03
Bounce rate desktop: 29.50

New Version
Bounce rate mobile: 61.65
Bounce rate tablet: 62.38
Bounce rate desktop: 61.65

PM sent.

So did not expect the numbers to be so close. Are load times for both pages as close?

I like the new layout better, however liking and selling are 2 different things.

I love Right Hand navigation to stand out, but some surfers do not like that, and that should not have effected your mobile numbers as well.

Your Copy write date shows 2006 on the first site I looked at.

Do you have any way of providing a link to the old version or it's gone and only the screen shot remains?

Until you can nail this issue down you obviously want to switch back to the old (unless actual sales are still the same or better than before)

Sure, it is available on archive : Femdom Destiny Femdom Destiny - Femdom stories femdom torture videos

I will check load time. Everyone like new layout more, I know. Will answer to PM soon

The hyperlink text list at above the fold in the main body (div class="anchorlinks") should be put back in as a test.

Just personal opinion, but the first design has that 'old big archive feel' to it - a site with tons of deep linking and massive content. The new layout has more of a quick modern wordpress feel to it, maybe your audience are looking for the first where there's a bigger perceived chance they'll find what they're really looking for. This is a special niche and your target audience might prefer OLD? Maybe run a survey among your visitors? :)

that sounds logical, too. I was thinking to mix modern and bring back features from old theme. Second sidebar, more links in sidebar, and less content below the fold

Jizar II the observation and especially the survey idea are awesome.

You wouldn't want every customer to tell you how to build a car but you do need to listed to the target audience!

Both sites are not the issue. When your bounce rates "magically" doubles like that, you are buying bot traffic from a crooked ass traffic broker.

The bots are so slick today. They can click your banner and even a link on the 2nd page simulating a real surfer. You got a bot problem.

Test is out, switch the page back and see if the bounce remains the same. I think it will.

I would keep the left sidebar from the old version. When seeing a page for the first time our eyes scan from left to right because that's how we read a book. Your old version has links and other stuff there, your new version has nothing. I would guess that goes some way to explain the different bounce rates.

Also, what timescale did you test the bounce rates over? They vary from day to day so you need to test for seven days at least to get accurate data.

Bounce rate changed at the moment I've changed site layout. In a day.
And I am not buying any traffic, this is mostly SE traffic

Rate is stable for months, on both samples.

All these guys are wrong.... I did have a look and the old version shows a bunch of pictures and an invitation to see femdom videos....OK a bit risque but, if somebody looks over my shoulder ( and I am in a bar right know)... OK not a big deal, or my buddies do not mind a bit of femdom.

The new version has a picture of an ass and a big headline " A toilet slave". Very scary stuff for most kinky guys and off they go...I had to trun my iPad away from that page otherwise I would have lost all my friends.

The punchline : not too many into scat arround here and off we go.:2 cents: