What Is the Disadvantage of Sending Users to My Website?

The short answer is that sending users directly to your website adds an extra step in their journey, which causes some of them to drop off and not complete the desired action.

Full Explanation

When you send users to your website, they need to take an additional action to continue through the process you want them to complete. This extra step creates friction because not everyone will follow through. As a result, there is a noticeable decrease in the number of users who remain engaged and finish what you intended, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up, or any other conversion goal.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

User receives a call to action or marketing communication.
User is directed to visit your website.
User must navigate and find what they need on the site.
Some users might leave during this navigation step due to the extra effort involved.
Only a portion of the original audience completes the intended goal.

Real Examples

Imagine you send people a link asking them to visit your site for an offer or further details. Because visiting the site requires them to act again—click, scroll, decide—they may abandon the process. This happens simply because of the extra step imposed on them.

Common Mistakes

Assuming that directing users to your website will guarantee conversions.
Underestimating the drop-off rate caused by the additional step of visiting a website.
Not optimizing the website experience to minimize user effort after arrival.

FAQs

Q: Why does sending users to a website cause drop-off?

A: Because it forces users to take an extra action before completing the goal, leading to lost interest or distraction.

Q: Is it always bad to send users to my website?

A: Not necessarily, but the extra step can reduce the number of users who complete the process you desire.

Key Takeaways

Sending users to your website introduces an additional step in their journey.
This extra step causes a drop in user continuation and completion rates.
Understanding this helps in designing better user flows with fewer friction points.