Google visitors en masse and forms

Traffic has doubled, form referrals dwindling.

[Powdork]

While my traffic from Google et al has grown substantially (doubled in the last three months) my form submissions have remained the same or dropped, with the most recent drop coming when my site went to #1 on Google. Is there any sort of precedent for this. The main rate of growth is through the index page. Those on MSN find my index page due to a zeal listing but they do travel to the contact page. I'm wondering if Google visitors are different in this regard. Perhaps its seasonal (summer oriented business, time running out), or perhaps a problem with the form, which hasn't changed. Any ideas?
Powdork

[athinktank]

I am a strong believer in differentiating between traffic and GOOD traffic. For example we really crunch the numbers when it comes to paid listings. Good analysis can lead to profit, while a poor or delayed analysis can lead to substantial losses due to BAD traffic / click through. I would take a look at how people are finding you though Google, and analyze the search terms that your users are using. You may have also jumped up on search terms that bring BAD traffic.

On theory is that the GOOD traffic were the ones that click though the muck in order to find your site. The BAD traffic gave up soon or settled on one of the higher results. Were some of the higher ranked sites just not good at all?

Hope my guesses have helped.

[Powdork]

Thats where I'm perplexed. The keyword phrase I went to #1 on with Google et al which is responsible for my huge jump in traffic is the heart and soul of what the entire site is about. A zeal listing has kep it high on MSN for the same keyword phrase and this traffic has been the stickiest. I guess I'm wondering if there is a form validator similar to the html validator. I bet Google will know.

[amazed]

Is it the contact page people get directly to in google? Or the index page, too? Maybe some information is missing on the contact page that people get from the index page?

[peewhy]

Those on MSN find my index page due to a zeal listing but they do travel to the contact page.

Perhaps it is a marketing operation.

We often think of hits and visitors relating to spiders, bots and good old customers but, the internet - by its very nature is a research too and many sales offices use it for generating leads.

When I see traffic go to my contact page I generally suspect the marketing people.

[mbennie]

I see the same thing with some of my sites. Although they have a #1 ranking and get more traffic than others of my sites that have lower rankings, sales are not necessarily any better. I think that the real difference in dollars between #1 and #3 is negligible. People tend to shop around before they buy. They may visit the site that's #1 in the serps first, but many will still visit #2 and #3 before deciding which site to do business with.

I also tend to believe (just a hunch) that many people don't end up buying from the best site. They just buy at the site they happen to be visiting when they finally get tired of shopping. This theory would give a conversion ratio bonus to sites 3-5 in the serps.

Just my opinion.

[peewhy]

Number one position does not guarantee success and a better site slightly below can easily generate better business.

This is why, <title> <description> are important.

[Powdork]

Some of you may be getting the wrong impression. I am not complaining about the traffic, it is relevant. I am not complaining that users not filling out the form, it is not related to the revenue. My clients are getting quality traffic and making money and happy. I am not trying to get users to the form. The links to it are on all the pages but they are always below the fold and you would need to want to contact the vendors to find it.
I am interested in why this large increase in traffic has not resulted in an increase in the use of the contact page.
Is Google traffic less likely to use the form than traffic from other se's for the same query?
Is the form submission time sensitive (Are users more likely to contact vendors directly as the seasonality wanes or deadlines approach)?
Is my form stressing under some sort of load?
Maybe the percentage of folks entering on the contact page has gone down since the index page has moved to number 1. (That seems likely)

[peewhy]

Is Google traffic less likely to use the form than traffic from other se's for the same query?

I don't think Google fans are a different breed.

Is the form submission time sensitive (Are users more likely to contact vendors directly as the seasonality wanes or deadlines approach)?

I have run various tests on forms v traditional email enquiries. Forms lost. The majority clicked the email link as opposed to filling out their info on a form.

Maybe the percentage of folks entering on the contact page has gone down since the index page has moved to number 1. (That seems likely)

I'd buy into that one, the index page is the entry page now, whereas previously they found the contact page first. IMO