Direct Traffic Explained

Understand what direct traffic is, how it works in Traffic Creator, and how to configure it effectively.

Direct traffic is significant for several reasons:

For established websites, direct traffic often makes up a significant portion of overall traffic, typically 15-30% for most sites and even higher for well-known brands.

In Traffic Creator, direct traffic simulation is designed to replicate genuine direct visits to your website. When you configure direct traffic in our platform, it:

• Appears with no referrer information in your analytics platform
• Mimics first-page landings as if users typed your URL directly
• Can be configured to enter through specific landing pages or your homepage
• Supports custom user behavior patterns typical of direct visitors, such as lower bounce rates and longer session durations

Our platform ensures that direct traffic appears natural in your analytics, accurately simulating genuine direct visits to your site.

To set up direct traffic in Traffic Creator:

1. Navigate to your project settings

   Access your project dashboard and click on "Edit Project" or "Project Settings".

2. Go to "Traffic Sources" section

   Locate the traffic sources configuration area in your project settings.

3. Adjust the direct traffic percentage

   Use the slider or input field to set what percentage of your total traffic should be direct. For most websites, 20-30% is a natural proportion.

4. Configure advanced settings (optional)

   Click the gear icon next to Direct Traffic to access advanced settings:

   • Landing Pages: Specify which pages direct visitors should land on
   • Device Distribution: Set the ratio of desktop/mobile/tablet devices
   • Browser Distribution: Configure which browsers direct traffic should use
   • Behavior Profile: Choose between Regular, Engaged, or Casual visitor profiles
   • Geographic Distribution: Specify countries/regions for your direct traffic

5. Save your settings

   Click "Save" or "Update" to apply your direct traffic configuration.

To create the most effective and realistic direct traffic simulation:

• Match your brand's profile: The proportion of direct traffic should reflect your brand awareness and market position. New or less-known sites typically have lower direct traffic percentages.
• Configure realistic landing pages: Direct traffic typically lands on homepage, login pages, and well-known deep pages. Avoid having direct traffic land only on obscure deep pages.
• Set appropriate behavior metrics: Direct traffic typically has lower bounce rates and higher session durations than referral traffic. Adjust bounce rate and time-on-page settings accordingly.
• Consider user intent: Direct visitors often have a specific goal or task in mind. Configure user paths that make sense for your site.
• Adjust for promotional campaigns: If you're running offline campaigns or promotions, consider temporarily increasing direct traffic to simulate their impact.

When analyzing your direct traffic performance in analytics platforms, pay attention to these metrics:

• Conversion rate: Direct traffic often has higher conversion rates than other sources since these visitors are typically more familiar with your brand.
• Pages per session: Direct visitors tend to view more pages than visitors from other sources.
• New vs. returning visitors: A healthy direct traffic profile typically has a higher percentage of returning visitors compared to other traffic sources.
• Landing page performance: Monitor which landing pages perform best with direct traffic to inform your traffic configuration strategy.
• Engagement metrics: Check that direct traffic shows appropriate engagement patterns (time on site, scroll depth, interactions).