Conversion Rate
3 min read

Never Ever Compare Your Conversion Rate With Industry Benchmarks

Conversion rates are important for assessing your business. But comparing your rates to industry standards can be tricky. This is due to things like SEO traffic, pricing methods, and paid traffic. Instead, look at all the important factors, such as your business model, customer behavior, and industry setting. This way, you can make smart decisions and focus on lasting success, not just quick wins.

The Misleading Nature of Conversion Rate Benchmarks

While conversion rates are indeed crucial, they can vary widely across industries and businesses. Comparing your conversion rate to industry benchmarks may overlook unique factors influencing your performance. For instance, consider the impact of:

Informational SEO Traffic Might Have Impact on your Conversion Rate

Your website may attract a significant amount of traffic through informational articles, which might not convert as well as transactional pages. While these articles contribute to your overall traffic, they may not directly lead to conversions, skewing your conversion rate compared to industry norms.

Pricing Strategies Have a Huge Impact on the Number of Orders

If your eCommerce brand offers premium or high-ticket items, your conversion rate may appear lower due to longer customer journeys and comparative shopping behavior. While competitors may boast higher conversion rates, your focus on quality and value may result in higher profitability despite lower conversion rates.

Top-of-Funnel Paid Traffic

Investing in paid advertising campaigns targeting cold traffic can drive volume to your website but may yield lower conversion rates. However, the return on ad spend (ROAS) may surpass competitors who prioritize high-conversion traffic sources, showcasing the complexity of conversion rate analysis.

Rethinking Conversion Rate as a Singular Metric

While conversion rates play a pivotal role in revenue generation, fixating solely on this metric can be misleading. Providing steep discounts or aggressively pushing for higher conversion rates may yield short-term gains but could compromise long-term brand integrity and profitability.

Embracing a Holistic Approach to Performance Metrics

Instead of chasing arbitrary benchmarks, focus on a holistic evaluation of your business performance. Consider metrics like customer lifetime value, retention rates, and overall revenue growth to gauge your business's health and success.

Looking Beyond Conversion Rates

In summary, while conversion rates offer valuable insights, they should not be the sole focus of your performance evaluation. Recognize the nuances of your business model, customer behavior, and industry landscape to make informed decisions. By prioritizing long-term sustainability over short-term gains, you can steer your business towards enduring success and resilience in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

<div style="padding: 20px; background-color: #dcfce7;color: black;margin: 20px auto;border: 1px dotted #60697b;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">💡Expert Tip:</span> Think about how valuable a customer is over time, try to keep 75% of your customers, and aim to increase your income by 10% each year to get a complete picture of how your business is doing.</div>

Matthias Strafinger

Author
Founder of Permar AI
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