You know the saying, "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it"? The same applies to websites. In order to stay ahead of the competition and make sure your website is providing the best possible experience for your users, you need to benchmark it regularly.
But what exactly is website benchmarking? And how can you do it effectively? Let's take a look.
What is website benchmarking?
Website benchmarking is the process of comparing your website's performance against other similar websites. This can be done in terms of a number of different factors, such as page load times, conversion rates, or customer satisfaction levels.
The aim of benchmarking is to identify areas where your website is performing well, and areas where there is room for improvement. By regularly benchmarking your website, you can track your progress over time and make sure that you are always moving in the right direction.
Why is website benchmarking important?
There are a number of reasons why website benchmarking is important. Firstly, it can help you to identify areas where your Ecommerce store is performing well, and areas where there is room for improvement.
Secondly, it can help you to track your progress over time. By regularly benchmarking your online store, you can see how your performance is improving (or deteriorating) and make sure that you are always moving in the right direction.
Finally, benchmarking can help you to identify areas where your online store is performing well compared to your competitors. This can give you valuable insight into what you are doing right, and what you could be doing better.
How to benchmark your Ecommerce site
There are a number of different ways to benchmark your website. Here are some of the most popular methods:
1. Page load times
One of the most important factors to consider when benchmarking your website is page load times. Page load times are a key factor in determining how users perceive your website, and how likely they are to stay on your site and convert.
There are a number of different tools that you can use to measure page load times, including Google's PageSpeed Insights tool and Pingdom's Website Speed Test.
2. Conversion rates
Another important factor to consider when benchmarking your website is conversion rates. Conversion rates are a key metric for determining how effective your website is at achieving its goals. There are a number of different ways to measure conversion rates, including using Google Analytics, Shopify dashboard and more.
3. Customer satisfaction levels
Customer satisfaction levels are another important factor to consider when benchmarking your website. Customer satisfaction levels can be a good indication of how users perceive your website, and how likely they are to return in the future. There are a number of different ways to measure customer satisfaction levels, including using surveys or customer feedback forms.
4. User engagement levels
User engagement levels are another important factor to consider when benchmarking your website. User engagement levels can be a good indicator of how users interact with your website, and how likely they are to stay on your site and convert. There are a number of different ways to measure user engagement levels, including using Google Analytics or other analytics tools.
5. Website uptime
Website uptime is a key metric for determining how reliable your website is, and how likely users are to be able to access your site when they need to. There are a number of different tools that you can use to measure website uptime, including Pingdom's Uptime Monitor and StatusCake's Uptime Monitor.
Conclusion
There are a number of reasons why ecommerce store owners need to benchmark their businesses. Firstly, it allows them to see how their business is performing in comparison to other similar businesses. This can help them to identify areas where they need to improve, and also to see where they are doing well. Secondly, it can help them to set realistic goals for their business, and to track their progress over time. Finally, it can help them to build a picture of their customers, and to understand their needs and wants.