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• What CRO questions do you have about conversion optimization?
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This is your chance to post a question and get answers from a conversion optimization experts. Reply to this topic, and we'll answer your question this week! Feel free to answer or post input to a question as well.

Hi there

I run an online games site, which requires users to download software. We lose 50% of player that start the download. Is there any clever tool to make the download seems less ? I have been racking my brains for years. Maybe a game to keep them occupied until the install is over. Are there any example of companies that have done it well ?

Any ideas would be hugely helpful

many thanks
Larry

Could you please provide the url of the website in question? It's much easier to answer questions if we can see what is going on, and know more about the service that you're offering.

Thanks.

Todd

Thanks for replying
The site in question is www.bingoliner.com, although as you ar ein the USA the download will be blocked

thanks
larry

Larry,

I honestly don't know of any software that can shorten download times other than something like a zip file. I'm not highly technical when it comes to file compression or file manipulation. How big is the actual file? Maybe visitors want/need to know so they become more willing to wait. If people are using dial up connections to download the file, maybe you could break it up into two files to make the download times seem less. Also, if the internet connections fail during the download, maybe you need to have some instructions telling people what to do. I know there are programs out there that allow people to download a file, stop in the middle, then continue. I think Adobe does this to get larger software apps that they sell.

That being said, if people abandon the download process prematurely it may be due to the fact that they don't understand the need for the software or don't find the value in it (especially if your competitors don't require a download or their downloads are smaller/faster).

Looking at the download page, the call to action ("Play Games Now Click Here") may be a little confusing since the CTA here is actually to download the software, not play games...yet. Second the CTA occurs before the explanation of steps to get the software, then there is no CTA at the bottom of step 3 which forces visitors to scroll back up the page. I would recommend adding a CTA button after step 3.

I realize that doesn't solve the download time issue, but again, maybe the issue also lies in that the site hasn't convince visitors enough to wait for the download. In the words of Keith Hagen, "It's the straw that breaks the camel's back." In other words, there are enough friction points and the level of anxiety of visitors is high enough after navigating the site, that visitors don't trust the or value the offering of your games to wait for the download.

Hope that helps.
-Todd

thanks for this, i will try

larry