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Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Glossary Terms

Conversion Rate

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Glossary Terms/

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Conversion Rate

What is the Conversion Rate?

A conversion rate refers to the percentage of users or visitors who complete a desired action after interacting with your business online. Simply put, it’s the measure of how effectively a brand turns its visitors, leads, or users into paying customers or engaged users, depending on the goal. 

High conversion rates are often seen as an indication of a successful marketing strategy, user-friendly design, and persuasive content.

How do you calculate conversion rates?

Conversion rate is pretty straightforward to calculate. Here’s the formula:

Conversion Rate = (Conversions ÷ Total Visitors) × 100

For example, if you own a mobile app development company like Tenet and 1,000 people visit your landing page with 50 of them signing up for more information, your conversion rate would be:

(50 ÷ 1000) × 100 = 5%

What are some examples of conversion actions?

The desired action, commonly referred to as a conversion, can vary depending on your goal. Here are typical examples:

  • Lead generation – Someone fills out an inquiry form for a service like iOS app development or product design.
  • Purchase – A customer buys a SaaS subscription or licenses a custom CMS development product.
  • Sign-ups – A visitor registers for a webinar or subscribes to a newsletter.
  • Downloads – A user downloads resources like design audit templates or mobile app research whitepapers.
  • Demo requests – Someone requests to see project portfolios for web development or cross-platform app development.

What impacts conversion rates?

Improving conversion rates doesn’t happen by chance; it builds on multiple aspects of a business’s online footprint.

  1. User Experience (UX) Design
    A smooth, intuitive experience ensures that users are guided effortlessly toward completing an action. Companies such as Tenet specialize in creating custom design solutions that encourage these actions, from brand style guides to comprehensive UI/UX approaches.
  2. Call-to-Action (CTA)
    Clear, enticing, and visible CTAs, such as "Request a Free Design Audit" or "Schedule Your App Development Consultation," are essential for nudging users toward completing conversions.
  3. Landing Page Optimization
    Optimize landing pages so they’re goal-focused with fast load times and persuasive keywords like "Tailored Mobile App Development for Startups."
  4. Page Speed
    Studies show visitors leave a website if the page takes more than 3 seconds to load. Improving user retention through technical enhancements will naturally optimize your conversion rates.
  5. Social Proof
    Tenet, for example, has impacted over 20 million people and generated over $1.54 billion in opportunities for its clients. Achievements like this, combined with high client satisfaction rates, can boost trust and enhance user willingness to convert.
  6. Pricing Transparency
    Make pricing structures and terms easily accessible to avoid any friction during a user’s decision-making process. This works particularly well for clarifying the scope of development services like Android app development or SaaS solutions.

Why is conversion rate optimization so important?

Conversion rate optimization (CRO) maximizes your return on investment (ROI). Whether you’ve run a PPC advertising campaign for SaaS development leads or spent weeks generating traffic via email marketing, a low conversion rate wastes those efforts. 

By analyzing behavior and refining your strategy, such as updating UX research or improving a website, you’ll:

  • Increase revenue with your existing traffic.
  • Build stronger connections with potential customers.
  • Improve usability, creating happier users and repeat visits.
  • Stand out in competitive markets like mobile app development or custom CMS creation.

Strategies to improve website conversion rates

Improving website conversion rates is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of your online presence. Here are several strategies to consider:

1. Optimize Your Landing Pages

  • Clear Value Proposition: Ensure your landing page clearly communicates what sets your product or service apart. Use concise headlines and supporting copy to highlight benefits.
  • Visual Hierarchy: Use design elements to guide users' attention towards the most important information and calls to action (CTAs). Ensure that the layout is intuitive and easy to navigate.
  • Compelling CTAs: Create strong, action-oriented CTAs that stand out visually. Use contrasting colors and clear language to encourage clicks.

2. Reduce Friction in Forms

  • Simplify Forms: Minimize the number of fields in your forms. Long forms can deter users; consider using multi-step forms or the breadcrumb technique to make the process feel less overwhelming.
  • Inline Validation: Implement inline form validation to provide immediate feedback, helping users correct errors as they fill out forms.

3. Leverage Social Proof

  • Testimonials and Reviews: Display customer testimonials and reviews prominently on your site. This builds trust and can significantly increase conversion rates.
  • Trust Badges: Include security badges and certifications on checkout pages to reassure users about the safety of their transactions.

4. Enhance User Experience

  • Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. A responsive design that loads quickly on mobile devices is crucial, as many users browse on their phones.
  • Page Speed: Optimize images and reduce the number of HTTP requests to improve loading times. Aim for a load time of under three seconds to minimize bounce rates.

5. Utilize A/B Testing

  • Experiment with Variations: Regularly test different versions of your landing pages, CTAs, and forms to see what resonates best with your audience. Use A/B testing to validate changes before full implementation.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Analyze user behavior and conversion data to inform your testing strategy. Focus on elements that have the most significant impact on user engagement.

6. Implement Retargeting Strategies

  • Retargeting Ads: Use retargeting ads to re-engage visitors who did not convert. Personalized ads can remind them of products they viewed and encourage them to return.
  • Email Follow-ups: Send follow-up emails to users who abandon their carts, offering reminders or incentives to complete their purchase.

7. Create a Sense of Urgency

  • Limited-Time Offers: Use time-sensitive promotions to encourage immediate action. Phrases like "limited stock" or "offer ends soon" can create a sense of urgency.
  • FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Highlight popular products or limited availability to motivate users to act quickly.

What is a good conversion rate across industries?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer because the “ideal” rate depends heavily on the industry, target audience, and desired outcomes. As a benchmark, most experts agree that 2-5% is a common range across industries.

This following table summarizes the average conversion rates across various industries, highlighting significant differences in performance metrics that can inform businesses about their competitive standing and optimization strategies.

 

Industry

Average Conversion Rate

Addiction Treatment

2.1%

Apparel & Fashion

2.3%

B2B SaaS

1.2%

Biotech

1.8%

Commercial Insurance

1.7%

Construction

1.9%

eCommerce

2.2%

Engineering

1.2%

Entertainment

2.9%

Environmental Services

1.3%

Financial Services

1.8%

Food & Beverage

6.03%

Healthcare

3.1%

Heavy Equipment

1.7%

Higher Education & College

2.8%

Hotels & Resorts

3.6%

HVAC Services

2.8%

Industrial IoT

2.6%

IT & Managed Services

1.5%

Legal Services

3.8%

Luxury Goods

1.4%

Manufacturing

2.1%

Professional Services

4.6%

Automotive

3.9%

Catering and Restaurant

18.2% (Landing Pages)

 

Why does conversion rate matter for your business type?

  • Startups and SMEs
    For founders and small business owners, tracking the conversion rate can help allocate budgets and refine their app development or website development journeys.
  • Large enterprises and C-Level Executives
    Monitoring key performance indicators, such as conversion rates, aligns marketing with measurable successes, especially for tailored initiatives in SaaS development or cross-platform app production.
  • Marketers and Product Managers
    Conversion rates validate the effectiveness of onboarding strategies, designs, and initial touchpoints, ensuring alignment with broader campaign objectives.
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