Thursday, 30 April 2009

What Is Your Conversion Rate?

When most marketers and analyst talk about conversion rate they seem to quote around 2 to 3% as the average conversion rate. Bryan Eisenberg wrote a great article on this subject titled The Average Conversion Rate: Is It a Myth?

In this article he writes:
“The sites that should convert 2 to 3 percent of their traffic are the exception, not the rule. I've long stated that sites that convert less than 10 percent should be concerned. Consider this along with the rising cost of online traffic, and the concern becomes a nightmare. Too many online marketers are spending too much money and time throwing too much unqualified traffic at their sites, then tweaking their traffic quality trying to reach the 2 to 3 percent mythical conversion rate.
If more online marketers focused their efforts on studying visitor intent and site optimization, instead of just driving traffic, their average conversion rates would be much, much higher.”


To inspire you or to make you depressed (the choice is yours) here are some of the top conversion rates for e-commerce sites as reported by Marketingcharts.com.



Source: Marketing Charts (via Nielsen Online)
Note: To be considered, e-commerce sites must have had a minimum of 500K unique visitors during the month. Conversion-rate data is based on visitor conversion rates, not session conversion rates: i.e., No. of unique customers/No. of unique visitors.

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Looking to fill your Web Analytics or Online Marketing position?
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Site: AnilBatra.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anilbatra

Friday, 24 April 2009

Conversation with Barry Parshall, VP of Product Strategy, WebTrends

Continuing my series of conversation with Webtrends executives at Engage conference here is my conversation with Barry Parshall, VP of Product Strategy at WebTrends




Also check out


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Looking to fill your Web Analytics or Online Marketing position?
Post your open jobs on http://www.web-analytics-jobs.com/
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Site: AnilBatra.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anilbatra

Friday, 17 April 2009

WAA Board of Directors

I am very honored and excited to be elected to the Board of Web Analytics Association.

I would like to thank all of you who provided support and encouraged me during me run for the WAA board. If it were not for Seth Romanow I probably would not be a board member today. Seth encouraged me and convinced me that I should run for the board. Thank you Seth.

I would also like to thank all of you voted for me. I know it was a tough to decide who to vote for because we had so many great candidates.

I will be in San Jose for eMetrics starting Sunday May 3rd . If you are going to be there I would love to meet with you to discuss where WAA needs to focus in coming year. If you are not going to be there, you can always email me at batraonline@gmail.com and send me you phone number. I look forward to speaking with you.

Thank You
Anil Batra

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Conversation with Casey Carey, VP of Products Webtrends

Continuing my series of conversation with Webtrends executives at Engage conference here is my conversation with Casey Carey, VP of Products at WebTrends



Also check out my

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Conversation with Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, VP of Marketing WebTrends

Conversation with Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, VP of Marketing WebTrends
I did a series of interviews with Webtrends executives at WebTrends Enagage conference earlier this month.

Here is a message from Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, VP of Marketing WebTrends for all those who could not attend Webtrends Engage Conference.




Also check out my conversation with Alex Yoder, CEO of Webtrends.

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Looking to fill your Web Analytics or Online Marketing position?
Post your open jobs on http://www.web-analytics-jobs.com/
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Site: AnilBatra.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/anilbatra

Thursday, 9 April 2009

My Conversation with WebTrends CEO Alex Yoder at Engage Conference

I had an opportunity to sit down with Alex Yoder yesterday and this morning to discuss where WebTrends is heading, the future of web analytics and what do we need to do to make Web Analytics industry successful. (Both of us are running for the Web Analytics Association board and if you have not voted yet then please do vote for both of us. Yes you can vote for both of us. I am supporting his nomination.)

Below is the video of my conversation with him this morning, this conversation was focused around his main message in his keynote speech. This video is for all those who could not attend the conference. I have also interviewed several other executives from WebTrends, those videos will be available soon.



Have a question for Alex? Post it here or ask him on twitter at @yodera.


I am running for the WAA Board of Directors position and will appreciate your support and vote. To learn why you should vote for me please view my details at WAA Site. If you have any questions please feel to email me at batraonline@gmail.com.
Site: AnilBatra.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/anilbatra

Friday, 27 March 2009

Anil Batra for WAA Board of Directors

I am running for the Web Analytics Association Board of Directors position. The voting for the position is now open. I will appreciate if you can support me and vote for me. If you are wondering why you should vote for me then please read my answers to the question WAA nomination committee asked me (below). If you have any questions, you can always reach me at 425-442-2036, batraonline@gmail.com or @anilbatra on Twitter.

Thank you for your support.

WAA nomination committee Q&A

Anil Batra Chief Analytics Officer, Ascentium

I have over 13 years of experience in Online Marketing, Web Analytics, Behavioral Targeting, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Product Management, Team Management, and Consulting. I am a team leader with proven skills in building, leading and managing cross-functional teams, and tackling complex key strategic issues. I bring a unique blend of Marketing and Technical Skills.

I hold a B. Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from India and an MBA from University of Washington, Seattle

My blog is one of the top Web Analytics, Behavioral Targeting and Online Advertising Blogs in the world. I am also a speaker at various web analytics and online marketing conferences and events and contributor to leading industry research.

What major contribution will you bring to Web Analytics Association and its membership?

I have been active in Web Analytics community via various activities that include


  • Blog on Web Analytics, Online Advertising and Behavioral Targeting to help spread the knowledge I gain from working with various clients and tools

  • Online Tutor for UBC courses – My interest in educating got me interested in this program

  • Contributor to UBC course work

  • Speaker and panelist at various conferences including eMetrics

  • Organizing and participating in Web Analytics Wednesday in Seattle area

  • Free Seminars on Web Analytics

  • Contributed to last year's CMS Watch Report

  • Wrote a paper on Bounce Rates to help companies understand what to expect from bounce rates

  • Whitepaper on Website Optimization Landscape

  • Active on Web Analytics Yahoo group, helping people resolve their issues related to web analytics

  • Started a section called “Ask an Expert” on my site to get some free advice on various topic in digital marketing

  • Instructor for various WAA Base Camps


Why should members vote for you?

I have been contributing to the industry and will continue to do so. I am dedicated to the field of Web Analytics.

I have worked with people/organizations that are just starting to use web analytics to companies who have been using web analytics for years, involved with optimization and now looking to bring other data sources together and other thinking about or working on personalization, behavioral targeting, predictive analytics, social media etc.

Being involved in the conversation with people at all levels and different countries I hear various views and I will make sure your voice is heard at WAA board.

Having been worked on both IT and Marketing sides I understand the needs for both of them and will represent both sides.

I am open-minded and always solicit feedback. I am enjoy new challenges and am ready to take on the challenge take WAA to next level.

Where do you think the Web Analytics Association should be in the next two years?

Many organizations that have already been doing web analytics for some time and now are looking at web analytics can be extended or enhanced to help them get a 360 view of customer and hence optimize their marketing efforts. This includes CRM systems, Social media etc.

On the other hand many organizations are still getting warmed up to Web Analytics and learning how web analytics can help them improve their bottom line.

In light of these two developments, education at all levels will continue to be a key initiative for WAA.

WAA is already an international organization but continued focus on expanding internationally will be key for WAA. Since business spans continents these days, we will need to make sure international voices are heard as we develop standards and best practices.

New media, tools, technologies will continuously need to be taken into account as we develop education, standards and best practices.

What is the biggest challenge facing the digital marketing industry?

New technologies and new form of media is emerging. The challenge will be to interconnect different customer touch points and get a comprehensive view and optimize accordingly. As we connect these data points it will be critical to makes sure we do not compromise the privacy of visitors/customers.