Why pour time and money into getting visitors to your site only to let them bounce after the first or second page?
It’s much cheaper—and smarter—to nudge someone who’s already on your site to view another page than it is to attract a brand-new visitor.
Guess what? It’s more valuable, too. When a visitor explores multiple pages, they’re signaling interest. Every relevant post they read compounds brand recognition and trust, which leads to more conversions over time.
Wouldn’t you be interested if I told you that you could double, triple, or even quadruple the average number of pages viewed per visitor?
If you haven’t invested much into optimizing your user experience (UX), a few focused improvements can drive outsized results.
This post walks through the 5 most effective ways to improve UX—practical changes that can quickly boost pageviews and session depth.
User experience is not art—it’s science
UX sounds complicated, which keeps many site owners from tackling it.
You might think only developers “get” UX.
In reality, anyone can start improving it. Experience helps, but the fundamentals are straightforward and don’t require specialized knowledge.
First off, what exactly is user experience?
UX is a broad term, which is why it’s easy to confuse. It covers how every part of your site’s content and interface shapes a visit. A helpful summary is the overall experience across the Morville honeycomb:
There are seven distinct keys to a good user experience:
- Useful – Your content must accomplish something.
- Usable – Content should be practical, and tools must work as intended.
- Desirable – Users need/want what you’re offering.
- Findable – Not only should your original content be findable, but your other content should also be easy to discover via clear navigation and internal links.
- Accessible – If visitors can’t access your content (intrusive pop-ups, overlays, poor loading, non-inclusive design), they won’t have a good experience.
- Credible – Users can only have a great experience if they trust what they’re reading/using.
- Valuable – Your site must deliver outcomes people care about (an extension of usefulness).
The five UX improvements below map back to these principles.
One more thing: UX is unique to each audience.
Two sites can make the same change and get opposite results. Your visitors, devices, and contexts are different—so your outcomes will be too.
That’s why, even if you agree with a tactic here, you should test it on your website to confirm it’s a net positive.
UX isn’t an opinion; it’s validated by data from real users.
1. Links are not just for SEO—they’re for users
Too often, site owners change content based on what they think search engines want—rather than what helps people.
I’ve been guilty of this in the past. Almost everyone has.
When you add a link, don’t do it just because you read that Google rewards content that links out to authority sites. Add it because it adds value for the reader at that exact moment.
Why are links good for UX?
- Links answer questions: If a question is common, cover it in the post. If only a subset of readers will care, a link gives them a path without derailing everyone else.
- Links lead to the next step: Every article has a scope. Instead of bloating posts, use links to connect related topics and help readers move deeper into the journey.
- Links build trust: One pillar of UX is credibility. Linking to sources and resources in a data-driven post increases confidence in your advice.
With the right links, readers can tailor their own experience—which is always positive.
There’s one more question I get a lot…
Internal or external? Keep it simple: link to the most helpful resource for the reader, whether it’s on your site or someone else’s.
Often, highly relevant internal resources win because the reader already trusts you.
Internal links obviously increase pages viewed per session. New sites won’t have much to link to, but established sites (e.g., Quick Sprout) should connect related posts generously.
External links might have a small indirect search benefit, but the real benefit is reader goodwill. When you recommend a genuinely great resource, people associate that value with you.
Don’t just link to the first result you see—curate. A strong curation habit builds trust and loyalty.
Finally, individual link CTRs are usually modest. But the cumulative effect matters. Adding a thoughtful set of internal links across a post can significantly lift the average pages per session.
That incremental lift compounds: going from 10,000 monthly pageviews to 11,000–12,000 with one optimization is a big win.
2. Some of your visitors are turtles
My long-form posts (5,000+ words) typically include many images.
I use images to break up text and improve comprehension.
Desktop readers can plow through long pieces more comfortably. Mobile users can, too—but only if the page loads quickly and is easy to scan.
Mobile and desktop differ in screen size and in real-world network conditions. Even with widespread 5G, many people still browse on slower or congested connections.
Most users are tolerant to a point—but not forever.
Core Web Vitals make this simple to measure: prioritize quick loading, visual stability, and truly responsive interactions. As of 2024, Google evaluates LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), and INP (Interaction to Next Paint). Aim for LCP > 2.5s, CLS > 0.1, and INP > 200ms.
The problem with many page speed tests: Tools like GTmetrix and Pingdom are useful, but default tests often run on unthrottled connections. That hides what slower networks experience.
Always rerun tests using mobile throttling profiles (e.g., “Slow 4G”) to simulate what a large share of users actually feel.
When I did this for Quick Sprout, the reported load time changed dramatically—proof that “passing” a desktop-style test doesn’t guarantee a smooth mobile experience.
Many testing tools also let you log in and choose a mobile-speed profile (e.g., 4G). That’s closer to what a big portion of users still encounter.
Under throttling, you’ll often see load times multiply. Beating a 2-second desktop target isn’t enough if mobile users still wait too long.
I’m not writing a full performance guide here, but these are the highest-leverage wins for mobile users right now.
Factor #1 – Requests and render-blocking: Older advice said “combine everything.” With HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, excessive bundling isn’t always ideal. What is critical is to reduce render-blocking work.
Minify CSS/JS, load non-critical JS deferred, inline only truly critical CSS, and avoid heavy frameworks you don’t use. Trim third-party scripts ruthlessly.
If you’re on a legacy theme with many small files, combining some assets can still help. Just test before/after on throttled mobile.
Factor #2 – Page weight (images & media): Keep pages lean. Before removing images, squeeze the bytes out of them.
Compress images and prefer modern formats (WebP/AVIF) where possible. Tools like Optimizilla or a plugin such as WP Smush help reduce file size while preserving quality. Use responsive images (srcset/sizes) so mobile users aren’t forced to download desktop-sized assets.
Enable HTTP compression. GZIP is common; many hosts also support Brotli for even better ratios. WordPress adds loading="lazy" to offscreen images by default—just be sure not to lazy-load your above-the-fold/LCP image. For heroes, add fetchpriority="high" (and consider decoding="async") so the browser fetches it early.
Also prioritize above-the-fold media. Mark your key hero image as high priority so the browser fetches it early, and defer everything non-critical.
Factor #3 – Hosting & delivery: Even perfect front-end code can feel slow on weak infrastructure.
Cheap shared hosting will cap performance. Use modern hosting with solid caching, HTTP/2/3, and fast TTFB. Put a CDN in front of static assets to bring content closer to users. Edge caching for full pages can dramatically improve perceived speed.
Bonus tip—dial up perceived speed with relevance: Like mirrors near elevators reduce perceived wait times, relevance reduces the pain of loading. Clear intros, skimmable structure, a table of contents, and descriptive meta copy make readers feel their time is respected.
“If users cannot find what they want on a website, they will regard the download time as slower than it actually might be. Conversely, if users find what they want on a website quickly and easily, they perceive the download time as faster than it might be.” – Shari Thurow
What does this mean for your site?
Use a table of contents to jump readers to answers, write concise meta descriptions, highlight key takeaways, and keep your visual hierarchy clean. The happier the reader, the more they’ll click deeper into your site.
Core Web Vitals align with this: keep LCP fast, maintain visual stability (no jarring shifts), and ensure interactions remain responsive as the page loads—watch your INP in particular on JavaScript-heavy pages.
3. Your message comes first, so eliminate distractions
Your message—what visitors came for—must take center stage.
This touches several UX categories, especially accessibility and credibility.
If content is easy to access and read, people continue. If it’s buried under clutter, they bail—and they’re far less likely to view another page.
Despite different designs, most sites share three distraction sources worth fixing.
Here’s how to clean them up…
Tactic #1 – Minimize or eliminate the sidebar: Sidebars are often afterthoughts. Either remove them, or be intentional about what earns a spot there.
Medium is famous for readability. Notice: no sidebar—just content.
No sidebar means fewer detours and more focus on the post.
Sites adopting this have increased pageviews and even conversion rates by 26-71%.
Sometimes, though, you do want persistent elements. If you keep a sidebar, limit it to:
- Opt-in
- Bio
- Top posts
- Products/services
That’s my approach.
Nothing flashy—just useful. Readers know it’s there, but the post remains the star.
Tactic #2 – Be careful with sticky elements: Fixed headers/footers can help conversions, but too many stickies (header + footer + social bar + chat) create claustrophobia.
Test before/after for time on page, scroll depth, and pages per session. Keep sticky elements slim and quiet.
I use a few subtle sticky elements—like a slim top menu or a thin Hello Bar—that don’t overwhelm the viewport.
But stack too many, and the experience suffers—no matter how good your content is.
Tactic #3 – Delay or tame pop-ups: Pop-ups can grow email lists, but intrusive interstitials crush UX.
I’ve tested pop-ups on Quick Sprout and saw strong opt-in rates:
If you use them, minimize frustration. Avoid on-load pop-ups. Wait at least 10 seconds—60 seconds can be even better—or trigger on intent (scroll depth, exit intent). Cap frequency, make dismiss buttons obvious, and ensure pop-ups don’t block core content on mobile.
4. Consistency is more important than creativity
To be credible, your brand must be consistent.
To be usable, your layout and content must be consistent.
Repeat visitors should know what to expect. If they want blog posts or pricing or to contact you, those paths should be obvious and familiar.
There are two big consistency levers.
Factor #1 – Branding & symbols: Your logo, colors, icons, and wording are part of your mental model for users.
Think of standard symbols like Google’s hamburger menu:
Across Google products, that symbol signals “settings.” Consistency trains users where to look and what to do.
Use the same symbols, wording, and tone across your blog, landing pages, emails, and product.
Quick Sprout is consistent: logo and color palette echo from site to social
Visit my Facebook page and you’ll see the same identity carried through.
If a user jumps from your blog to a landing page with a different logo and colors, alarm bells ring—and credibility drops.
Keep posts and site content visually cohesive. Use icons that match their function and reinforce meaning—not just decoration. Relevance beats novelty.
Icons can stand alone or enhance links. For example, a magnifying glass near a search tool, or a subtle arrow beside “read more.”
Factor #2 – Style: Beyond colors, style includes typography, sizes, layout patterns, and voice.
Copywriter Bernadette Jiwa nails consistency—her posts read and look like her emails.
The same is true in her email—consistent font, size, and link color.
Consistency helps readers know what to expect—on any platform.
My emails follow the same pattern every time: a link to “the latest (site) post” in the opener, a standalone link with the post’s title, then a short intro and another call-to-action.
After a few sends, readers learn the pattern and navigate without thinking. That’s good UX.
If I changed the pattern randomly—sometimes putting the link at the top, sometimes only at the bottom—more people would miss it. Predictability removes friction.
5. Make important elements BIG
I don’t just mean giant opt-ins. By “BIG,” I mean highly visible and easy to act on.
For maximum usability, readers should instantly recognize what matters most on the page.
Look at any site with great UX and you’ll find a clear focal point on each page.
Here, the email opt-in box stands out through contrast and size—even with a large image and menu present.
Another example:
Unbounce makes its sign-up buttons impossible to miss.
Both examples use the power of contrast.
If you want something to stand out, give it a contrasting color and enough white space. It will get attention.
This isn’t just for sign-ups. Make all important elements—navigation, CTAs, in-content links—obvious and easy to tap.
Some sites gray out links or remove underlines to “keep people from leaving.” If your content is strong, readers will return. Clear links help them explore more of your site (and the benefits in Section 1 apply).
On NeilPatel.com, links are large and highly visible. Even on mobile, they’re easy to spot and tap.
Considering many links lead to other helpful pages, highlighting them is the right move.
Contrast isn’t the only tactic. You can also emphasize elements with spacing, a distinctive font, or bold/italic style.
Brian Dean at Backlinko uses a yellow callout box for content upgrades, bolding the opening words to draw the eye.
Want to verify what actually grabs attention? Use a behavior tool like Crazy Egg to track clicks, scrolls, and mouse movement.
See where attention naturally flows, then test layout and styling tweaks until you reliably guide visitors to what matters—opt-ins, key links, or essential content. On mobile, also ensure touch targets aren’t tiny; as a rule of thumb, aim for at least 24×24 CSS pixels to reduce mis-taps and frustration.
Conclusion
If you’re investing in traffic, invest in UX.
Adopt even a few tactics from this post and you can meaningfully increase pages per session and total pageviews.
If you currently get 10,000 monthly pageviews, what’s easier—finding 3,000 more visitors, or lifting average pages per session by 30%?
In most cases, the second option is way easier.
UX optimization isn’t one-and-done. Measure impact with A/B tests, watch Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, and INP), and iterate. Small improvements compound into a site that loads fast, reads clean, and keeps people exploring.
Challenge yourself to keep testing and evolving your site’s UX as your brand grows. The payoff is more engaged readers—and more of them viewing the next page.