Knowledge base

What is a conversion rate? Basic information and definition

Written by Persooa Team | Jul 11, 2024 12:10:01 PM

Conversion rate plays an extremely important role in the booming online marketing industry, as it is a measure of the effectiveness of any company's efforts to succeed. Business owners work hard to maximise the effectiveness of their operations in order to attract new customers and retain existing ones. There are many ways to optimise your business operations to increase conversions. However, it is worth understanding what conversion rate is and how to measure it in the first place.

What is a conversion rate?

Conversion rate is a measure that determines the percentage of users who take a specific action on a website, relative to the total number of visitors. It is a key indicator of the effectiveness of marketing efforts to assess how well a website is converting visitors into active customers. These actions can include purchases, registrations, filling out forms or signing up for newsletters. In e-commerce, the conversion rate is particularly important as it has a direct impact on a company's revenue. By monitoring and analysing this metric, you can better understand user behaviour and optimise your marketing strategies to increase conversions.

How do we calculate the conversion rate?

Counting the conversion rate is a simple but important process for any business operating online. To calculate this rate, divide the number of conversions (i.e. the number of users who performed a desired action, such as making a purchase, registering or filling out a form) by the total number of visitors to the site in a given period, and then multiply the result by 100% to get the percentage. For example, if 1,000 users visited the site and 50 of them made a purchase, the conversion rate is 50 divided by 1,000, or 0.05, which when multiplied by 100% gives 5%.

The formula for the conversion rate is as follows

Conversion rate =


number of conversions
number of visitors
× 100%

Regular monitoring and analysis of this metric allows companies to better understand the effectiveness of their marketing activities and identify areas for improvement.

What to measure for conversion rate in e-commerce and beyond?

Measuring conversion rates is essential for assessing the effectiveness of marketing and operational activities. In e-commerce and other sectors, it is useful to monitor several key indicators that provide valuable information about user behaviour and the effectiveness of strategies. Below are some examples:

  • Newsletter Subscriptions: The number of visitors who subscribe to a newsletter. This is an important indicator for building a loyal customer base and potential leads.
  • Download of an e-book or other resource: The number of users who have downloaded material available on the website, such as e-books, reports or whitepapers. This shows user engagement and interest in the content offered by the company.
  • Completion of the contact form: The number of visitors who completed the contact form. This indicates the interest of users in the company's offerings and their willingness to get in touch.
  • Registration on the site: The number of new users who have created an account on the website. Registrations are important for companies offering services that require login and personalisation.
  • Make a purchase: The percentage of visitors that make a purchase. This is a key metric for online stores that shows how effectively a website converts traffic into sales.
  • Added to basket: The number of users who added products to their basket but did not complete the purchase. This helps to understand which products are attracting attention, but may require additional action to get users to complete the transaction.

What is a good conversion rate?

Judging what constitutes a good conversion rate depends on a number of factors, including the industry, the type of product or service and the specifics of the market. In e-commerce, the average conversion rate is typically between 2% and 5%. In some industries, such as finance or technology, these rates can be higher, while in luxury goods/services or real estate, these rates are typically lower. It is important to benchmark your performance against industry averages, monitor your own progress and strive for continuous improvement. Good practice includes regularly testing and optimising the site, analysing user behaviour and adjusting marketing strategies. Realistic targets and regular monitoring of conversion rates will allow you to respond quickly to changing customer needs and behaviour, ultimately leading to increased revenue and customer satisfaction.

Effectiveness of marketing activities in terms of conversion rate

Regularly monitoring and optimising conversion rates is essential for any business that wants to succeed. Companies that invest in analysing user behaviour and testing and adjusting their marketing strategies can expect to see increased revenue and customer satisfaction. Effective conversion rate management allows them to respond more quickly to changing market and customer needs, resulting in sustainable growth and competitive advantage.