Jun 18 2007
Firefox Users Do it Longer
How’s this for an interesting (?) bit of trivia.
Checking out Google analytics today, I noticed that Firefox users (on Windows) spend more time on my websites than Internet Explorer users (drill down into visitors/browser capabilities/browser and OS).
Looking at a sample of 100,574 visitors over 2 websites (blogpond and dLook), of which 15.22% (n=15,307) used a combination of Firefox and Windows, I determined that these Firefox/Windows users spend on average 19.96% more time on the websites.
Mac users are the quickest! 4.46% (n=4,486) of the visitors were Mac users, and they spent an average of 13.57% less time on the sites.
Do Firefox users visit longer on your site? I’d be interested in hearing your feedback and any theories.
14 Responses to “Firefox Users Do it Longer”
Is it that Firefox users are more Tab savvy? I know I tend to middle-click links to new tabs and read them when I get to them, and leave them open in the background to return at a later time. I’ve watched my brother and he does the same apart from the middle-clicking. You can’t do this on a single button mac as easily and IE has only recently gotten tabs and users may still be getting the hang of them?
I’ve always wondered if tab browsing also reduces referrer stats and confuses them as direct visits when in fact users have opened links in a new tab. I’ve never bothered checking the validity of that though. Still, I sometimes tab-click-through deliberately for this reason so site trackers can’t see where I’ve come from. teehee.
I noticed the exact same trends. I’m not surprised that Mac users come and go so quickly, but if I hadn’t seen the stats, I would have thought that IE users would spend more time than FF users.
Same here w.r.t. Firefox vs. Internet Explorer.
Looking at one of my site’s Google Analytics data over the last 30 days, Firefox users spent 19.15% more time on site, Internet Explorer users spent 25.74% less on site, but Mac users (which include Safari, Firefox for Mac, Camino, etc) spent 30.85% more time!
I guess time spent on site is also correlated with number of page views, which can be more interesting. More page views = more involved for a community site.
It is also interesting to look at why they come to the site in the first place. Personally I found Firefox users are usually community building members who spent time moving between pages and making contributions. Then you get Internet Explorer users who come via referral link or search engine. They found the piece of information they need and then leave.
Hi Craig
I thought of the tabbed capabilities, so had looked the IE7 users, but saw that on one site they spent 21.82% less, and 7.29% more on the other.
Still what you say is correct. I do the same with FF and can have over a dozen tabs open at once, which I’m guessing is counted as time spent on the site. Perhaps IE7 users just don’t use that function as rigorously.
Your comment about skewing the referrals is interesting, and I suspect you might be right. How to test though….
Hi Zack
Thanks for stopping by. This is just a couple of sites, could well be that it’s not reflected elsewhere! (See Scott’s experience with Mac Users, for example).
Hi Scott
I do suppose the nature of the site could well influence the demographic & consequently the results. Interesting with regard to Mac users to your site though.
Would be interesting to find out! I use Firefox and love it.
By the way Meg, I’ve just tagged you – have a look at http://vadirectory.net/blog/?p=197 for the details.
Cheers, Kathie
Maybe people at work use internet explorer and people at home use firefox hence have more time to enjoy your site?
Hi Nick
That could well be a point. I know a lot of workplaces don’t allow Firefox.
Interesting data from 2 of my ecommerce sites:
Site 1:
Firefox 4min22
IE 3min17
And another one of my online stores, even more pronounced difference
Firefox 7min40
IE 3min51
But, on my magazine and lead generation sites, there is virtually no difference…
Strange.
Hi Nathan
That IS interesting. Those two are even more pronounced.
Thanks for the feedback
Wow, thats interesting, thanks to this post I fired up my G.A and found the same. On mine FireFox visits average three times longer than IE
I use the tabs a lot. I use Firefox/Windows and I do open things in a new tab so I can keep checking out the original site with out using the back button. Maybe it is just the open tabs that run the time up.
Firefox users have traditionally been more web savvy, more likely to try new software and applications and participate in online activity – those that aren’t are more likely to stick with IE, which they don’t have to download. ie they are more geeky. (or should that be firefox. they are more geeky? – sorry, poor pun)
Knowing this from prior reading I thought I should still do a bit of research on the profiles of Firefox/IE users to back up my claims.
A comScore study showed that 6 in 10 Firefox users are likely to visit ‘user generated content’ sites, such as blogs and photo sites. They are also much more likely to visit sites that offer technology and internet based topics. (86% as apposed to 60%). Firefox users are in general richer, younger and more likely to be male than their IE counterparts.
So as a blogger whose majority of posts relate to blogging and internet related areas, it is not surprising that Firefox spend more time on your site. I suppose their spending power means they are good for blog advertising too!
Hi Sue
Thanks for that interesting feedback. As you imply, it’s something we suspect – but good to see an “official” study, which makes it more legitimate.
Does this mean I should be raking in the adsense revenue in no time 😉 ?
Personally I am older, generally poorer and not likely to be male (in this lifetime at least) so not making money from your Firefox visitors may be an exception that proves the rule too.