How to keep people on your website Netflix-style
Anytime we finish something on Netflix, my kiddo makes us watch all the previews for recommended shows so he can decide what to watch next - even if he decided to watch Octonauts for the 39th time this month.
Those previews have a purpose: Netflix wants you to stay on their platform and keep watching.
They’re also strategic. If Netflix were to show my 3 year old a Ted Bundy documentary preview, we’d never use them again.
They know that in order to best serve you, they need to show you shows and movies that you’ll want to watch - and they do that based on the types of things you’re already interested enough in to watch to the end.
Your website needs to do the same thing: give visitors a reason to stay on your website and keep learning more about your services.
These breadcrumbs are links leading to other relevant content so visitors keep exploring. And you need to choose them just as strategically as the mysterious and yet scarily accurate Netflix recommendation algorithm.
Breadcrumbs on your homepage
I love a good “Choose your own adventure” section on homepages because they are the perfect spot to highlight the next steps visitors can take. It lets people explore your website and your service without feeling overwhelmed by 47 choices and drop-down menus.
You should always link to your main offer and one free option (like your blog or newsletter). And since 3 options always looks better than 2, choose a third option like a mid-tier service, your about page, or webinar or masterclass.
Breadcrumbs on your blog
Each blog post should have a Related Posts section at the end with 3-4 posts that are similar to the one they just read, but also offer a different perspective or option.
When I showcase a client case study on my blog, I include links to 2 other client projects with the same deliverable, but a different design style. I also include a link to a post about my VIP Day process so they can learn more about how I work with clients to achieve the outcome they just saw.
Breadcrumbs help to reduce your website’s bounce rate because it’s easy for people to see where they want to go next and that’s good for your SEO.
