Serp ctr

[doodlebug]

I have a domain with 50k to 60k UK exacts per month and I currently have it at number 3 on Google, the 2 above me, 1 is a review site and the other is just a related article in the Independent.

The domain is icecreammaker.co.uk selling ice cream makers aswell as ice cream related news and events and I have just started adding recipes but doing this slowly on purpose.

I just want to know what % I might get at position 3 ?

Many thanks

 

[Edwin]

It depends quite a bit on the TITLE/DESCRIPTION tags, because that's what people will generally see as the excerpt in the SERPS (as long as the keyphrase term is in the DESCRIPTION, it should show up in the results)

What I mean by that is that if you have a very compelling TITLE/DESCRIPTION pairing that makes people want to click and learn more (by visiting the site) you'll get a much higher CTR than if you have a dull-as-dishwater TITLE and uninspiring DESCRIPTION. It can really make a very big difference, especially when viewed in context i.e. when you compare what other sites have as their own TITLE/DESCRIPTION combos.

You may find this tool handy for fine-tuning your SERP snippet...
http://www.seomofo.com/snippet-optimizer.html

 

[doodlebug]

Thanks Edwin >

The title simply says 'ice cream maker deals' and the description says 'shop for your ice cream maker and start enjoing the benefits of making your own ice cream'

I think the description is a good Call to action line.

 

[Edwin]

Sounds pretty bland to me!

Have a play with this tool...
http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/index.htm

It's not perfect (no automated tool can be) but you should be able to use it to put together and test some more compelling, appealing headlines. Try and score above 60% if you can - I like to try and hit 80% or more, but then I tend to tease away at the problem for a while

If I was trying to put together a site about ice cream makers, I'd first try and come up with a list of 10-20 reasons/benefits/advantages of using ice cream makers vs going for shop-bought ice cream. As well as giving you great ammunition to work into the copy on the sales pages, some of these may also leap off the page as being extra-compelling enough to be "worth" pushing in the title and especially in the description...

 

[doodlebug]

Had a little play and getting 66% at the best, I will keep trying.

Many thanks again for you help

 

[getmein]

If you are asking about the amount of search volume you'll get at no.3 V a different position this is some data based on the now outdated leaked AOL data

http://www.seobook.com/google-serp-ctr-data-search-rank

I have found myself moving from 3 to 1, can triple the volume - BUT - as edwin says having a compelling (rather than simply SEO directed headline) and good description snippet will make a big difference. This is why people who are buying search traffic via adwords spend far more time crafting titles and why (IMO) in the last few years for commercial search terms more visitors have clicked through on the paid results (that and the fact that google has grown the paid search area of the page).

 

[doodlebug]

Thanks Getmein > I would imagine 40% is with a generic on a suitable extension and perfect title and description.

I'm trying to be very realistic and aim for this >

20% CTR from SERP
3% CR from sales

So 50UK exacts PM = 10k UVs PM and 300 sales PM

Cheers

 

[getmein]

As an affiliate site you've got 3 stages

1) serps traffic

2) click through to merchant

3) conversion on merchant site

So for example,

10k uniques -> 1k (10% CTR rate to merchant site) -> 30 sales (at 3% conversion rate).

Over time you'll get a better feel for what the numbers are like in 2) and 3) and then you'll be in a better position to forecast sales.

If you can get 100% to clickthrough to the merchant site -> then I'll come and work for you


What you can do to help hone your description tag is run some adwords tests - test some different description lines and see what gets the best CTR. Then use that data to change your description tag to the description with the highest CTR and sit back and eat an ice cream.

 

[doodlebug]

Any idea what a typical conversion rate might be once the customer is on the merchants site ? they must equal valid leads so should be quite good I imagine ?

Thanks

 

[wb]

The site is at #9 for me on Google - is your personalised search turned on?

I would make full use of the title tag length (68 characters from memory) and use words which get searched for (not only will this assist in optimisation, but it is also what the user may have previously searched for and may therefore be more compelled to click on).

An example title could be (haven't done keyword research):

Ice Cream Makers | Ice Cream Maker Deals | Make Your Own Ice Cream

This stands out more than the current:

ice cream maker | ice cream maker deals

Similarly, an example description could be:

Use an ice cream maker to make your own fresh ice cream in the comfort of your own home! Discover the benefits and browse a wide range of ice cream makers now.

Instead of the current:

Shop for your ice cream maker and start enjoying the benefits of your own home made ice cream.

 

[getmein]

Don't think it's possible to speculate on 'typical'. If you've done a great job of getting the customer tee'd up to buy (given them lots of info on the best machine, whats good about it etc), then the conversion rate is going to be much higher than if you have a thin affiliate site based on the merchant feed.

 

[Retired_member41]

20% CTR in your ice creams maybe.

But with such a fab domain and the fact you are not retailing yourself, you need to attract 1 day buyers, and not perusers.

Bit of a no no for self provisioned stores, but for affiliate sites, why not include a price from in your title or description, 'From £79', ok not great for rankings, but fab for getting people to click through, so under used by affiliates.

The from will attract the bargain hunters and indicates you also sell the more expensive ones, giving the impression the expensive ones may be at a great price too.

And your storeburst site has the words, no discount codes currently offered etc from this store? Its like saying, hey you may get a better one cheaper elsewhere? Please dont click.

 

[doodlebug]

I would make full use of the title tag length (68 characters from memory) and use words which get searched for (not only will this assist in optimisation, but it is also what the user may have previously searched for and may therefore be more compelled to click on).

I have changed the description to the one you said but left the title for now as I know Google gets pi**ed off if you rank a site and then quickly change the title.

Thanks

20% CTR in your ice creams maybe.

Bit of a no no for self provisioned stores, but for affiliate sites, why not include a price from in your title or description, 'From £79', ok not great for rankings, but fab for getting people to click through, so under used by affiliates.

Interesting point, I actually have them from £40, I will consider your idea.

And your storeburst site has the words, no discount codes currently offered etc from this store? Its like saying, hey you may get a better one cheaper elsewhere? Please dont click.

I hadn't thought of that, doesn't matter to much anyway as I a working on my own site for now, it's just got hundreds of recipes to add before going live
I think I will add about 30 to start with and add more as I go along so it helps with SEO

Thanks

 

[Edwin]

You're not likely to sell to 3% of clickers. More like 0.5% to 1% if you're lucky for a relatively "frivolous" product like an ice cream maker.

You have the problem that most people don't know exactly what they're looking for in an ice cream maker (unlike a TV for example, where they may have a strong idea about the technology, screen size, features, manufacturer - even the particular model number - they want to buy) so your site is likely to feature a lot of people who are clicking around all over the place gathering information before they buy.

 

[doodlebug]

Do you think it was worth my 2k it cost ?

Thanks.

 

[bensd]

Do you think it was worth my 2k it cost ?

Thanks.

I don't think you overpaid for it however, you probably could have got a better domain on acorn, or even two similar domains for that price. As i said i don't think you paid too much, but you can get some great bargains on here

 

[domainseller200]

I think £2k was expensive if I am honest (in a reseller environment)

I think there are better names you could have spent it on, especially as Ben says with some of the bargains that come up on here and domainlore recently.

In such a niche market, a top ranking for a few keywords is vital for you to make the effort you put in, for the earnings you will obtain from it worthwhile.

With an average ice cream maker selling for £30-40 on amazon and them paying 5% commision thats £1.50 - £2 for every sale

Thats between 1000 - 1333 sales you need to make from the site, just to break even on the domain name cost, let alone the time, effort and other costs you incur on the project

Sorry to sound like I am putting a damper on it, but I also believe in being real and setting realistic expectations, to avoid disappointment at a later date.

I would set modest targets to begin with and then look at the domain as an investment which you are expecting to get a full return on over the next 24 months

Set a target of £1000 profit to be earnt in the first 12 months, which is realistic and then returns 50% of your original investment in as quick as 12 months - this will keep you motivated as you are reaching this achievable target, instead of becoming demotivated and losing interest, by trying to initally reach a target which is just not possible in such a short space of time.

To get a 50% return on any investment within 12 months is a fabulous achievement in any investment situation, and in this particular one, it is perfectly achievable in my honest opinion.

Good luck anyway and hope you make this work for you, whatever you decide to do

 

[doodlebug]

Thanks, My plan is to make what I can over 2 years and then sell the domain for more or at least what I paid for it, I plan to do this on a few quality domains.

Cheers

 

[mojoco]

Thanks, My plan is to make what I can over 2 years and then sell the domain for more or at least what I paid for it, I plan to do this on a few quality domains.

Cheers

If it is making money why sell for "at least what I paid for it" ? That does not sound like a great plan to me.

I'm sure with a little more thought, your £2k, plus development costs, as well your time could be invested into something with a greater return on investment.

 

[doodlebug]

Good point but I am just thinking maybe in 5 years time domains might be worthless ?