Comments on: Cool custom report: How first visits are different http://www.webtrendsoutsider.com/2008/cool-custom-report-how-first-visits-are-different/ Tips, tricks, and pokes, just WebTrends Analytics Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:44:12 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jim Cain http://www.webtrendsoutsider.com/2008/cool-custom-report-how-first-visits-are-different/comment-page-1/#comment-774 Jim Cain Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:40:55 +0000 http://www.webtrendsoutsider.com/?p=58#comment-774 Rocky, fantastic post. I work with Sitebrand, a personalization company, and wrote a whitepaper earlier in the year specifically on First Time Visitor personalization, and how to properly model them in analytics. We have been making recommendations for years on how to treat first time visitors differently in regards to messaging and calls to action, and this is the first work I have found online that really speaks well to this segment. You do a very convincing job explaining why to examine this segment closer with your specific examples. I particularly liked the clearance section reference, we have seen that as well and addressed it with customers. The only point that I would add is that if you want to make changes to your clearance section for First Time Visitors, make sure to include micro-conversion (newsletter, wishlist) options as well as this will allow you to re-market to this visitor type and turn them into more profitable loyal visitors. Here is what we feel is the primary point to consider on why you should examine your First Time Visitors as a unique traffic segment: -For many web properties, First Time Visitors equal 70+% of overall traffic, 70+% of overall marketing budget (search and affiliates), and less than 40% of the revenue. While your numbers may vary, a quick look at the numbers for your first time visitors will be eye-opening. Thanks again for the great post, and feel free to drop me a line at jcain AT sitebrand.com for an advance copy of the whitepaper, which we will be releasing in late summer. Rocky, fantastic post. I work with Sitebrand, a personalization company, and wrote a whitepaper earlier in the year specifically on First Time Visitor personalization, and how to properly model them in analytics.

We have been making recommendations for years on how to treat first time visitors differently in regards to messaging and calls to action, and this is the first work I have found online that really speaks well to this segment.

You do a very convincing job explaining why to examine this segment closer with your specific examples. I particularly liked the clearance section reference, we have seen that as well and addressed it with customers. The only point that I would add is that if you want to make changes to your clearance section for First Time Visitors, make sure to include micro-conversion (newsletter, wishlist) options as well as this will allow you to re-market to this visitor type and turn them into more profitable loyal visitors.

Here is what we feel is the primary point to consider on why you should examine your First Time Visitors as a unique traffic segment:

-For many web properties, First Time Visitors equal 70+% of overall traffic, 70+% of overall marketing budget (search and affiliates), and less than 40% of the revenue.

While your numbers may vary, a quick look at the numbers for your first time visitors will be eye-opening.

Thanks again for the great post, and feel free to drop me a line at jcain AT sitebrand.com for an advance copy of the whitepaper, which we will be releasing in late summer.

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