How To Reduce Your Blog's Bounce Rate?

This post basically explains the following questions: What are Analytics?? What is a bounce rate?? How vital it is?? How to reduce the bounce rate of your blog?? Once you build a website or a blog, your primary aim is to increase the traffic to it, in other words, you try to attract as many people as possible. This could be achieved by the adding your posts to various social bookmarking sites, participating in forums and so on.

Do you think, it is enough if we just increase the traffic to our blog??? Definitely not!!! You need to analyze the traffic or statistics(analytics) of your blog. So, What are Analytics? To keep it very simple, it is a tool to measure your site's performance. It displays various data regarding your blog and bounce rate is one such data. Most of the newbies install Google Analytics on their blogs but they do not know, how to interpret these data. I restrict myself to explain only about "Bounce Rate" in this post.

So, What is a Bounce Rate? Wikipedia defines it as, "Bounce rate is a term used in web site traffic analysis. It essentially represents the percentage of initial visitors to a site who “bounce” away to a different site, rather than continue on to other pages within the same site." I feel the statement is pretty self-explanatory.

To keep it very simple, bounce rate simply represents those percentage of visitors who move away to some other site after visiting a page on your website. You may find the percentage for "Bounce Rate" on the right corner below the graph once you log in to your Google Analytics Account. Higher the bounce rate, more the number of people leave your blog after a single web page visit.As per the definition, an ideal percentage of bounce rate would be zero. Practically speaking, a bounce rate below 60% is good for any blog. So, our only task is to make him/her stay in our blog or in other words, just get the second click out of the visitor. Though, it appears to be very easy, it is one such area that even probloggers constantly work upon.. I am pretty sure few ideas would have cropped if you clearly understood the post till this. You may implement your ideas but, do consider the following methods in reducing the bounce rate.

1. Clean Template: The first impression is always the best impression and you can gain that best impression only when your blog looks clean and tidy. It is not necessary that it should look very professional but, it should be clean. I mean the widgets should be placed properly, broken links should be updated and so on.

2. Quality Content And Keywords: Content is always the king!! So, it is very important that your blog provides quality content. Please, ensure that the keywords are relevant to the content of your blog. It is important that both the keywords and content go hand in hand or else you end up providing the wrong information to the search engines. By doing this, you lose the second click from the visitor.

3. Internal Links: This serves to be the most effective way of reducing a blog's bounce rate. When you provide links which are relevant to the content, within your blog, it is obvious that the user makes a click on it and thereby, he keeps hopping around your blog. In fact, you end up boosting your page views and back links too.

4. Related Posts: The last factor which I would suggest to reduce the bounce rate would be the related posts widget. I recommended every blogger to add this widget at the end of every post. It will have a tremendous effect in reducing your bounce rate and increase the page views of your site. Click here to learn more about this widget(for blogger blogs): Add Related Posts To Blogger Blogs.

As far as I know, the above four methods will definitely reduce the bounce rate. To be very frank, even I am currently working on reducing the same for my site. I So, I appreciate any ideas from your side as well. Leave them as comments below this post and I assure you that I will include them in my next series of post.

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Free Premium Blogger Templates - Masunurin

Today, I present to you, yet another premium blogger template namely, "The Masunurin Blogger Template". This template is originally a Wordpress theme which was converted to blogger by "Themecraft.net". Basically, the Masunurin blogger template is a two column premium blogger template. It includes features like rounder corners, dual navigation bars, a default tweet and re-tweet icon for each blog post and a default social bookmarking system.

Live Demo | Download Masunurin Blogger Template For Free

You may have a look at the template by checking the screen shot above. Or click on the demo link to have a live demo of the template. As I said before, the main feature of this template is the rounded corners which you may observe in the widgets. The second feature would be the navigation bars. As we have seen in previous premium blogger templates like "The Hybrid News Blogger Template" or "The Latter Blogger Template", this template also includes a navigation bar above and below the title of the blog.

Another important feature of this blog is the social bookmarking system which comes by default with the template. There are about nine social bookmarking sites which will be displayed at the top right corner to the visitors of the blog. This eliminates the need to manually install the social bookmarking sites as we do in other templates. Click here to learn about "Adding social bookmarks to blogger blogs".

The template how ever has one disadvantage, or in other words, lacks one feature which I feel is essential for a very professional site namely, the footer section. How ever, it is quite easy to add a footer to our blogs. You can click here to learn about "Adding a stylish footer to your blogger template". If you are interested in installing a footer like the one I installed, you may mail me and I will help you out!! Comments are always appreciated!! So, install the template and tell me your views!!

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Add An Animated Notice Box To Blogger

Today, I would like to present you an interesting widget, "The Animated Notice Box". This widget will add a notice box such that it flashes for certain number of times say three times and then, will stay static on the web page until the user wishes to close it. It is something like an alert message which you would have seen in many websites. But, this kind of alert message can be used to increase the subscribers for your blog. If you still haven't got an idea about what I am explaining here, then just look at the screen shot below.

I hope you got an idea about the widget now. If not just visit this blog "My Test Blog" to view the demo of this widget. I will initially explain you how to install this widget in your blog with a general message as shown in the screen shot above. Later, I will provide you the code which I installed in "My Test Blog" that displays a message to the visitor asking him/her to subscribe to the blog. Let us get to our work now.

1. Go to "Design->Edit HTML. Make a backup of your template before modifying the HTML by clicking on the "Download full template" link at the top of the page.
2. Search for the following line in your template. Use "CTRL+F" to fasten your search.

]]></b:skin>

3.Add the following piece of code just below the line mentioned in step 2.

<style>
#info{
border: 1px solid;
margin: 10px 0px;
padding:15px 10px 15px 50px;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: 10px center;
position:relative;
color: #00529B;
background-color: #BDE5F8;
background-image: url('http://i46.tinypic.com/jzf8tk.jpg');
}
</style>

<script src='http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.2.3.min.js' type='text/javascript'>

</script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
$(document).ready(function(){
$(".close").click(function(){
$("#info").animate({left:"+=10px"}).animate({left:"-5000px"});
});
$("#info").fadeOut(800).fadeIn(800).fadeOut(400).fadeIn(400)
.fadeOut(400).fadeIn(400);
});
</script>

4. Save your template. Next, you need to add the "div" section of the code any where in between the body tags of your template. The simplest way to add this code is to use the "HTML/Javascript" plug-in in blogger.
5. To do so, just navigate as follows: Design->Page Elements. Now, click on "Add a Gadget" and select "HTML/Javascript". Paste the following piece of code and hit the Save button. Leave the title section of the widget empty.

<div id="info">
<a class="close" href="#close" style="float: right;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.tinypic.com/3502jif.jpg" /></a>
This Is Your Message .You can change it to Your need. Click on close button on right to exit this box</div>

6. You may drag the widget any where you want. Once you finalize the place, click on save again and view your blog with the "Animated Notice Box" installed.

As I said earlier, you may download this text document "CODE I USED", which consists of the code I used in "My Test Blog"(Demo which you viewed). You may use the code in document for your blogs too. But, please do change the links and the title of your blog in the code (self-explanatory). Else, you will help me increase my subscribers count by displaying the box in your template:)

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Add Breadcrumb Navigation To Blogger Blogs

I came across the breadcrumb navigation trick for blogger during its inception. But, I thought there is no use adding such a widget other than improving the navigation. The navigation simply can be improved by adding a blog archive or using the labels widget in blogger. But, I found that apart from improving the navigation it also facilitates Search Engine Optimization. Basically, the search engines view a breadcrumb as a text link to posts and provides importance to the subject of the linked page.

To basically understand this, I should define what a breadcrumb is??? To keep it simple, a breadcrumb is a widget like stuff that displays the visitor's location within a blog. Basically, it improves the navigation for a blog and helps the visitor easily jump from one part of the blog to another. To have a better understanding of what I am blabbering, please have a look at the following screen shot.
Let us now install this hack to improve our SEO and site navigation. Just follow the simple steps given below.
1. Go to "Design->Edit HTML. Make a backup of your template before modifying the HTML by clicking on the "Download full template" link at the top of the page.
2. Search for the following line in your template. Use "CTRL+F" to fasten your search.

]]></b:skin>

3. Add the following piece of code just above the line mentioned in step 2.

.breadcrumbs
{
float: left;
width: 590px;
font-size: 11px;
margin: 5px 10px 20px 10px;
padding: 0px 0px 3px 0px;
border-bottom: double #EAEAEA;
}

4. Save your template. Just make sure that your template is expanded. Click on the "Expand Widget Templates". Now, search for the following piece of code in your expanded template.

<b:includable id='main' var='top'>

5. Replace the following block of code with the code mentioned in this text document - "Breadcrumb For Blogger".

<b:includable id='main' var='top'>
<!-- posts -->
<div class='blog-posts hfeed'>
<b:include data='top' name='status-message'/>
<data:adStart/>

6. Save your template. That's all folks!!!

Visit any of your post page and enjoy the hack!! If you still face any problem regarding this widget, I am always ready to help you via mails. Even comments below the post will do!! For all those who had a smooth installation, just enjoy the hack!!!

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Free Premium Blogger Templates - Uniqx

When I searched for premium blogger templates, I found one amazing template namely, "The Uniqx Blogger Template". Basically, Uniqx blogger template is a two column template with right sidebars, footer columns, custom fonts and abstract. The template was designed by "Rethnaraj Rambabu" from BloggerBits. The main difference between this template and the other premium blogger templates is that it carries a unique font( ‘Chunk’ and ‘Steinem’) throughout the template.

Live Demo | Download Uniqx Blogger Template For Free

You may have a look at the template by checking the screen shot above. Or click on the demo link to have a live demo of the template. Let me continue to highlight some of its features. The template consists has an unique navigation bar. Unlike the usual bars which you see above or below the header, this template consists of a navigation bar besides the title, in a random order, not horizontal nor vertical menus. It also includes "Welcome Text", where in you can add your name and your blog name. Above all, it is designed such that the "Welcome text" appears only in the home page.

It includes a "Read more" hack installed by default with the template. To make it more professional, it includes a three column footer. I just can't use any other word in this post other than "unique" because, it is designed in such a way that it carries a separate identity for itself from the header to the footer. I hope you like this unique template!:)

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How to increase backlinks to my blog???

Recently, I received a mail from one of my friends. It stated that "Hi friend, tell me few methods that will increase the backlinks to my blog". It is quite obvious that many bloggers want a solution for this question. Though I'm not an expert, I will share few tips regarding this issue. There are few questions which always run in the minds of a newbie when they hear to terms like backlinks, SEO, RSS, bla bla bla... Even, I used to wonder what the heck, these probloggers are trying to explain in their post. Initially, I felt like am heading nowhere when I read their posts. But later, I understood each phrase has got its own value and meaning. Anyway, I don't want to make things very complex as they do. I will try to keep it as simple as possible.

Let us first understand, what are backlinks??? To be very simple, you may refer the Wikipedia definition which states "Backlinks are incoming links to a website or web page". I prefer saying backlinks are quality links from various sites which link to your site. I stress on quality links because there is no use if you receive a backlink from a PR0(Page Rank) blog. To check the backlinks for your site, visit Google and type the following text in the search bar.

link:http://www.yourblogname.blogspot.com/

(Note: Replace the green text in the above link with your blog/website URL)

The above step will only give you a quantitative analysis of the backlinks, that is, gives you the number of backlinks for your site. I always feel that there should be equal proportions when it comes to quantity and quality. I mean to say, you need to have a reasonable number of backlinks from quality websites. Now, you will be wondering what do I mean my quality websites? It is very simple. The quality of a blog can be determined by its Google PR. People have different views about the above mentioned statement. I accept partially to it, though I feel there are lots of other factors which determine the quality of a blog. It is acceptable to receive links from site with PR3 and above.

Now, you know what are backlinks, how to find the number of backlinks to your blog and to determine the quality of each backlink. In this post, I will provide you with two simple tips that will increase the backlinks to your blog quantitatively.

1. Spread the word through templates/widgets:
This is the most effective way of increasing the backlinks to your blog. It is basically meant for webmaster and works out well, especially for blogger blogs. Just by including a small piece of HTML code in the credit section of each template, one can build his backlinks enormously. Have a look at the screen shot below for a better idea.
Every time, when the template is downloaded from your site and used, it will increase the backlinks without the knowledge of the user(75%effective). Make sure, it appears at the credits section of your template. Do not irritate the user with multiple links since there is no effect in doing so. For widgets, apply the same concept of including a link, but make sure it appears as small as possible. You may add the following piece of code at the end of each widgets you spread through your blog.

<center><a style="text-decoration:none;font-size:70%;" href="http://www.yourblogname.com/">Add to your blog</a></center>

(Note:Replace the text in green with the URL of your blog)

2. Comment On Sites With Top Commentators Widgets:
This method seems to be the most simplest method that one may adopt to increase his/her backlinks. The important feature to observe while commenting is that, you need to know if your link is categorized under the "dofollow" or "nofollow" tag. Make sure you comment on blogs with "dofollow" blogs. Most of the blogs and websites have adopted the concept of dofollow. Even if the blog is a "nofollow" blog, the widget will preferably provide dofollow links only.

If it is a nofollow blog, then the link will be not be counted for backlinks. It will just serve as a link to increase the visitors to your site. Nevertheless, it serves for some purpose. So, I recommend every one to comment on other blogs. (Note: Please make sure that you comment relevant to the topic and do not spam the other site. I prefer to comment on blogs which are related to my domain.)

I have restricted myself to just two simple techniques of increasing the backlinks in this post. I will post few more methods of improving the same in my next series on the same topic. If you truly feel that my blog is worth reading and is helpful, then please link to my blog too. Just copy and paste the following piece of code anywhere in your blog!!!

<a href='http://www.newbloggingtipz.com/'>Everything About Blogging</a>

You may leave your views about this post along with a link to your blog in the comments section below. Another method to increase your backlinks:)

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