I am a web designer who was tasked with redesigning a website that sheet music, freebirdnotes.com. The new website has been live for about 3 months but the bounce rate is still very high. I've compared the website with other similar websites, but can't figure out why the bounce rate is so high.
This is simple: In theory: You improve your targeting and only drive those who are actively looking for piano sheets.
This website looks pretty good, I thought there for a second you had built it shopify, but if you did kudos! You're a BA.
The traffic that this website might be getting might just be the wrong one, or not as interested and are simply browsing. The goal is truly to have targeted outreach, so even if the volume goes down the bounce ratio should too.
Hi there. It sounds like prospective customers aren't getting the right prompts to move them down the funnel to take action. A quick call with you might provide some more insights that you can use to increase your conversion rate. Head on over to my profile at https://clarity.fm/alanbucknam and schedule a call. I've done a number of site redesigns that look into increasing conversion rates via research and iterative design. Looking forward to talking with you.
They may need a reason to stay - and to get to know you/your site better before deciding to make a purchase. I just perused the site and it looks like a store. Unless someone wants to buy why would they stay? Plus, they may be looking for something free rather than paid (like guitar tabs). I'd suggest getting people to sign up for a mailing list, with segments targetd to different genres and offering a free arrangement as a lead magnet.
Hi, I'm Tommy and I'm a music educator myself. Since your website is for a specific audience, two things pop in mind:
- Do you attract the right audience?
- Do you have educational material in your website?
Attracting the wrong audience is where everything will go wrong. In terms of educational material, do you have something complimentary, so visitors can search deeper in your site for information regarding piano sheets, how they're used today, their history, interviews with active musicians today, and so on?
Your product (piano sheet music) is one thing, the 'hook' that makes people stay around is another thing. Let me know if I could help.
Positive energy and love,
// Tommy
You need to consider how you're driving traffic to your website and if the message of the traffic source is consistent with the message on the page they'd land on your website. You may need to create a series of landing pages with different emphasis so they match the messaging of the traffic source.
Driving traffic is not your problem. Even the world's largest publishers of piano sheet music are struggling. They, and you, all share one problem: you aren't solving the problem people looking for sheet music have. You are all assuming the problem is "I need sheet music for x." Wrong. The problem is "I need to present a successful performance, wow my friends, please someone (even, maybe just myself), by being the 'bringer of joy' in a musical setting."
Getting the written instructions for playing the music is one small part of that job or need. You want to stand out? Turn your sheet music sales site into a place where more of what they're trying to accomplish can actually happen. Supplying the sheet music might become secondary in that setting, but unless you go in that direction, you'll be a distant competitor to 8notes.com, sheetmusicplus.com, imslp.org, sheetmusicdirect.com, amazon.com, and many, many others.
Think about it from the customer's perspective: I want X sheet music. Oh, great, there it is on Amazon, who I know and trust, and, boom, I have it. Wait, what? There's freebirdnotes.com, too? Never heard of it. They offer the same thing, but cheaper? Nah. I'll stick with Amazon because, well. Amazon. Wait, you say you've got good plano arrangements? How do I know they don't suck? Nah. I'll just stick with the professionally arranged versions by known publishers."
Also, there is a VERY high likelihood that your product is illegal. The right to create and sell, or even share, arrangements is something you would have to secure in advance from the publisher of the original musical work, a right which they most likely would deny to license to you. Delegating the arrangement and posting of content to "members" is probably scant protection for you, as your platform enables and monetizes creation and sale of these arrangements.
I'm not qualified to give you legal advice, but I can say with certainty that you should get some!
