Has your site traffic tanked like the economy in recent weeks? Well, as you can see from the Google Analytics screenshot below, the traffic to one of my sites has dropped from 3569 visits on September 9th to an average of about 700 per day since September 15th. (Note: Former Fed chief Alan Greenspan said this economy is the worst he has ever seen on the 14th and the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 300 points in the first 15 minutes of trading on the 15th.)
That traffic is 20% of normal levels. Not only that, but the bounce rate more than tripled and the average time spent on the site was cut by more than half. UGH!!!!
(Click the graphic to see the full size.)
Am I troubled by the decline? Not at all! Because despite the 80% traffic drop, my sales on that site are only off by 10%.
Why?
Because the traffic from the PPC campaign for that site has barely dropped off at all and that traffic is targeted. They're people who are actively looking for the product that I'm selling, they read my ad, they click the link, find exactly what they were looking for and buy what I'm promoting. Phew! Thank goodness for PPC traffic.
That said, I'm not taking the economic crisis (traffic crisis) lying down. I'm doing what any Super affiliate who uses PPC marketing is doing right now and re-doubling my efforts.
I spent the entire weekend reviewing and re-working my Google Adwords, Yahoo! Search Marketing & other PPC campaigns. Moreover, I spend a LOT of time in my Wordtracker account building new campaigns for existing and new products.
Here's an example of a product category that I added on the dating service review site. It's something that I figure that many people will try to resort to when all other efforts fail to improve one's economic situation. 🙂
But seriously, NOW is the time to get in the game if you haven't already. The economic crisis is going to get much worse before it gets better and you CAN make it work for you – IF you work at it.
To that end, I posted a Q and A article to help you learn more about how PPC works.
Too, Anik and Amit posted another video that reveals some key PPC strategies that Amit uses.
Watch it.
Don't be a victim of this disaster — DO something and make it WORK for you!!
Please share your comments and questions on this issue. Suggestions welcome and we'll help where we can.
Hi Rosalind,
I just learnt a tip today about Google Analytics counting your own visit as unique visits. This is not good as your stats result gets skewed – you think there is a huge spike, but actually the spike is your visits. Duh.
The tip is about a simple way to prevent your own visit to be counted. That way, you can be sure that every morning when you check your stats, all the visits exclude yours.
1 – Open the host file. Start > Run > Open: C:windowssystem32driversetc
2 – Add the following lines to your host file:
127.0.0.1 http://www.google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 google-analytics.com
127.0.0.1 ssl.google-analytics.com
3 – Save and restart your browser.
Have you heard of this approach? Does anyone else have the same issue?
Great! I like this article. Although we are in the crisis era, we still make money online!
A timely blog as usual, I think that by reducing our debts and watching where and how we are spending our disposable income, we can weather this down turn in the world’s economy if we act responsibly, it is never too late.
I haven’t used PPC yet. I dabbled in it a year ago, but then real life became more pressing than internet marketing, and I didn’t even spend my full $50 voucher.
I’m new to this town and haven’t found a job, so I’m using this time to be a full time internet marketer. My niche isn’t necessarily the best for these tough economic times, but it doesn’t seem to be overly affected and I plan on having a high authority content site by the time the economy recovers.
Rather than panicking, I’m finding that this crisis is strengthening my resolve.
Hey Stacy,
“Rather than panicking, I’m finding that this crisis is strengthening my resolve.”
Wiser words have rarely been spoken — you go, girl!!!
Cheers,
Ros
Out here in the Philippines we have not yet felt a direct hit. Few banks had money in Lehman the stock market is but not the worst in Asia.
Where I think the Philippines will start feeling the crunch is when the Philippine Overseas Foreign Workers will not remit to their families as much as last year.
In 2007 that was 16 billion dollars.
A recession always presents opportunities. I just saw a CNN report that reported huge increase in sale of house safes and domestic security appliances. Perhaps a profitable niche in the making?
G`day Rosiland,
I shudder when thinking of PPC … lol … something ALL newbies need to avoid until more experience is gained … heck I lost (to me) a lot of money doing it when I first started. I haven`t noticed any decrease in my site traffic though the numbers are to small to really gauge anything … still making sales. Viva Le Revolution! .. lol
Does PPC actually account for most of your sales? I haven’t used it much and have tried to rely on good buyer keywords for my review sites from organic search.
Would I be better off using PPC?
Hi Rosalind
I have just discovered Affiliate Marketing and am about to finish my first read of your Super….. Handbook. I hope I can be nearly as successful as you are..
I have got an awful lot to learn, however I am focused on the job in hand. Any tips would be most welcome.
Incidentally, I live in the UK and today’s newspapers are reporting a catastrophic crash of the European financial system and the economy.
Many people in the UK have indulged in the cheap money syndrome that has been prevalent in the UK during the past 10 years. Yes, consumers have taken the loans, however the European Banks have been unbelievably irresponsible with their lending habits. The small country of Iceland could well bring down the European banking system any day soon, according to the newspapers.
This crisis has got to be an opportunity as well as a catastrophe!
great job Ros, I really learned a lot from you. looking forward for a higher PR..
Hi Rosalind – I’ve been quite lucky compared to some folk, although my traffic was down in the summer.
It’s great that you’re making more sales though. When we’re really squeezed, it’s often a good thing though as it forces us to work harder and smarter.
I have to wonder if it’s really the recession that’s causing a lot of folk to lose traffic though. So many people seem to obsessed with this election, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what’s taking them away.
I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re spending every spare second they get watching the election coverage. Some bloggers seem to be posting about the election more that their usual topic. And I’ve temporarily unplugged from Twitter because it’s all people seem to talk about on there too.
Hi Cath,
You’re right. Even here we’ve been obsessed with CNN coverage. I’m kinda bummed that I’ll miss tonite’s debate. They should have real-time TV on airplanes! 🙂
Hi Ros,
I have been a long time supporter of your site. I thought that during this time traffic rates would go up and more people look at home business ideas in case the lose their jobs. It’s a real shame that people are not wising up at times like these!
It’s at the darkest times that we should be seeking the light!
Haydn
Oh, that’ll definitely pick up again as soon as the election is over. 🙂
Karen: We’re not laughing here in the U.S. Rather, we are fit to be tied. Both these hacks running for President voted for the Wall Street bailout: $700 billion to buy up securities their beloved free market says are worthless. This is leadership? No. It’s proof both these men are despicable sell-outs to the principles for which this nation was formed!
Ros: Thanks for another in a long list of buy signals. Much like when Washington makes direct reference to troubles in the stock market you can bet a playable reversal is at hand, ditto an internet marketer.
There are so many people who see trouble ahead. Although I agree the world as we have known it is coming to an end, this does not mean disaster, because the fact of the matter is this day is better made for full restoration of purposeful principle brought forward by the American Revolution. Just how much these principles are NOT some quaint relic is about to be revealed.
Hi Tom,
Yes, definitely time to buy IF you have the cash.
Sadly, the hacks in the current administration who, in cahoots with Wall St., tried to bolster a sagging economy with sub-prime mortgages, made sure that millions don’t and won’t for a long time to come. Not saying though that those who bought into the problem shouldn’t have been smart enough to realize that they’d be out of house and home as soon as the rates went up.
I’m all for legislating against stupidity… otherwise the greedy grubbers get it all, as they are doing now.
As much, if not more, the fault of the previous democratic administration.
From the NYTimes 9/30/99:
“Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits…. In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times… “If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.”
source:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9c0de7db153ef933a0575ac0a96f958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
A good idea (extending the possibility of home ownership to people with moderate incomes) gone terribly wrong.
Feeling “pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits” doesn’t force a company’s decision-makers to make bad loans — greed does and the Rep. administration failed to take action when the fallout began to take place.
The biggest downside to unfettered capitalism should now be evident to everyone… it’s a system that rewards just a few at the expense of many.
If banks were to guarantee 5 or 6 percent mortgage interest rates, everyone would benefit – borrowers, lenders, builders, etc., etc., etc., … i.e. the whole economy.
What really gets me is that many of these sub-prime mortgages started off at more than 7 percent, then jumped to over 11 percent at a time when we here in Canada were picking up longer term mortgages at rates between 5 and 6 percent.
Ridiculous greed — clearly not part of the Democratic ideal.
Great advice, Rosalind!
While your example shows mainly US traffic results, the meltdown is affecting the EU economy as much or more, and will hit Canada much more heavily next year with the ripple effect from the US.
As the Stock prices tumble more and more cubicle-dwellers will be laid off, somewhat shrinking the niche spending but increasing the WAH market, so there’s never been a better time to be sure people have both niche & mainstream sites, and to start to develop a workable blend of PPC, article marketing and social site efforts – a balanced ‘online portfolio’ of sites and traffic generation.
You’ve been blazing a trail along those lines for years, and now the world economy is proving you right all along – bravo!
To your continued success…
Doug Champigny.
Doug: What is the WAH market?
Hi Renee… WAH is short for ‘work at home’.
Hey Doug,
I couldn’t agree more re the WAH market. How many more millions will be losing their jobs over the next year or so? Hmmmm. Wish it weren’t so, but will do what I can to help!
A recession creates GREAT opportunities…
Although my level of traffic is MUCH lower than yours, the number of unique visitors has also dropped off by a similar percentage over the last month or so. However, and quite surprisingly, my sales conversion rate was up for September by a heart-warming level. This trend is getting stronger by the day as I am already set to pass last month’s figures in the next few days and there are 23 days of the month left to go.
But here is the crazy thing, you may think with this startling increase in sales I would be selling a product that will help people through this recession, but no, I am selling a simple to learn and use ‘Stock Market’ trading system! Now the answer may just be that I am constantly fiddling and improving the sales page and I have done something right.
Or, and what I feel is more likely is the fact that with such strong media focus on the ‘Stock Market’ right now, it has raised public awareness and the interest of a small percentage of people who have recognised the potential the ‘Stock Market’ holds for them.
This seems to be a bit of an unexpected gold rush for so I am going to capitalize on the fact by stepping up my marketing efforts while this trend lasts…
Hey Kevin,
Boy, do I wish I was in that category at the moment. Of course, considering I don’t have any money in that game, that just wouldn’t be right.
But you go guy! Enjoy the windfall!
Nice post Ros. Hey I was on your site checking it out and noticed a typo Rrom instead of From on this page sage-hearts.com/dating-service-reviews/
I always look forward and read your email/blog posts. Keep up the good work.
Les in Edmonton
Aaah, that’s just a little typo, not nearly as significant as those of which I’m capable. You should have seen the email that went out to that group. Aargh!!!
Honestly, i have been reading your material……..since …..well…it seems like forever!!!!
I’m always inspired by your material….and your accomplishments!
Keep up the great work Ros
Hi Rosalind,
I’m a long time lurker on your wonderful blog.:)
I feel for you for the traffic drop. My adsense dropped by 40% since that black monday. Hopefully, we’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.
Regarding that new category on your dating site, I’ve always wondered how they verify the financial status of their members. Any clue?
Good question, Jarod. Perhaps I’m naive to believe. I’ll send a note and ask the question. 🙂
Ah Ros….You always inspire me. So I went ahead and tried the Law of Attraction and visualized that someday that screenshot would BE MINE! To paraphrase Ms. Palin…”I can see that screenshot from across the room but it doesn’t make me Rosalind Gardner!”
Thanks for sharing your stats with us. However, I must decline to show you mine on the grounds of not wanting to hurt your readers by the uncontrollable fits of laughter they would have to endure.
I figure your American friends’ sides are already sore from the American political campaigning. Not that we have anything to brag about here in Canada, eh? You betcha!
Thanks again for words of wisdom!
Karen
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge… say no more! 🙂