Percentage Returning Visitors

[Gert Leroy]

Google Analytics show me a returning visitor percentage of 20%

How does this has to be interpreted? Is the percentage low or high?

[incrediblehelp]

I would say it is pretty good. It really depends on what type of website you have. For instance here at WPW it is community and I am sure they have a very high returning visitor rate. But if you sell Christmas ornaments I am sure that rate would be much lower.

[Sergio Simarro]

For one of the bussiness we managed, we have a 25% of returning visitors, so I think that's also a nice percentage as incrediblehelp posted.

Consider that, if you receive 1000 visitors per month, 750 are new so, if your old customers are happy and new can be also in that position, your sales will carry on increasing.

Kind regards.

[greeneagle]

We have a real high ratio of return visitors.

When webstats present a high number of "Estimated Save as Favorites" as well as a high number of up to 80% or so...

I think that's a badge of honor.

We and several of our clients continually see a very high rate of return visitors.

Most well established Sites I have seen can see a continual 80%+ there.

Ken

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by greeneagle

Most well established Sites I have seen can see a continual 80%+ there.

Whoah! New blood needed there!

[greeneagle]

Incredible - That might be an initial view, but we were talking "established".

One client gets 2Million page views per day...

Mine gets roughly 300 visitors/day 100 or so are new. That ratio sustains itself and grows well.

It depends on the Site, but you have to look at a high ratio of return visitors as; delivering the goods" - IMO. That doesn't detract or in any way indicate a new visitors defecit, and shouldn't be assumed so.

It's a real common business model off-line also...It's a main drive for creating a mailing list or e-zine... Repeat customers outbuy new customers at many "brick and mortars" also.

New customers are as good as gold, but return customers are platinum!

Ken

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by greeneagle

New customers are as good as gold, but return customers are platinum!

Agreed, but one visitor can only by so many dvd players, cell phones, t-shirts, etc...

[greeneagle]

Not resellers buying from any wholeseller!

Not conesseurs of timely information!

Should we build a list of exceptions?

Don't forget news sites.

Ken

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by greeneagle

Not resellers buying from any wholeseller!

Of course.

Originally Posted by greeneagle

Should we build a list of exceptions?

Seems like the general rule would be:

High return rate for B 2 B and lower for B 2 C?

[greeneagle]

B2B or B2C?, is probably one good dividing line to start with.

Personally, I like to see a high return rate on any Site, even services like provided by the hunting site we just relaunched. We assessed the market, found many potentials such as 15 pages of hunting news and attractants such as weekly Field Reports on hunting in North Texas that should capture a healthy loyal following.

For me, that's a key ingredient in Web2.0 marketing these days. There are so many "digital doors" to walk through, depending on our ability to match them to the Site being promoted that can cause an avalanche of traffic with or without the SE's help. Here's a great example from just today: http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=67423 . People seem to be migrating to where their interests are satisfied, and staying there.

Everything is becoming "niche".

Be the best in the targeted niche within a client's or your own play for the resources available.

I really prefer seeing a high ratio of return visitors, any and every day from launch. That tells me from the "get-go" that we are meeting basic needs in the marketplace and that we are reaching our target audience. With a high return ratio, that's never a concern.

I wouldn't be satisfied with only 20% for most Sites, making exception for the likes of adsense directories or replicated spammy affiliate Sites.

Parked domains probably have one of the lowest return ratios.

I'd be willing to bet WPW's return ratio is 80-20 or better. It's probably closer to 90-10, just guessing. That certainly can't be interpreted as; non-provision of desired product or service, nor can it be a concern as not reaching full market value at any given window in time - IMO.

I believe we can also safely add successful forums and blogs to the list of Sites that most likely see an extremely high % of return patronage.

Ken

[greeneagle]

BTW Gert Leroy:

Nice post.

This is an important topic.

Ken

[smo]

It is 15% for me.
There are two main points for me
My site is on script and programing , so visitors search for solutions at google and come to my site, after getting their solution etc they left, some of them sign newsletter and some post their bugs / problems at forum and return for a solution. I think scritps, programming sites are too many and this rate is not so bad.

Another point is my site is in growth phase. From less than 100 a day two years back to 5000 in a day now. So new visitor percentage is under pressure.

Thanks to google analytic. Installed this 20 days back so this percentage is likely to go up as it keep data over a longer period.

[Sergio Simarro]

80% as greeneagle is a high returning visitors rate, but this can not be accomplish by all sites.

The stats I have provided come from a Web Site dedicated to Parking services at the Alicante airport (Spain). That means that, when you go on holidays or business flying from an airport, you leave you car there that it is much more cheaper to park it at the "official" parking from the airport.

So, how many times can a person go on holidays during a year (and by plane)? That's why a 25% of returning visitors I think is quite high for us.

A Forum like this or a Blog offering SEo advices, could reach 80% or higher as greeneagle said. And suh a high difference does not mean that one is more successful than the other. In this case, both seem really successful bussiness.

And totally agree about the "niche" thinking. There is too many competitors everywhere for every bussiness but, by behaving as they do, we will have more competitors everyday.

Kind regards to all readers!