Bounce Rate

Bounce rate is a web analytics metric that shows the percentage of visitors who land on a page and then leave without interacting with the site further — meaning they don’t click on any links, visit another page, or take any other action.

In simple terms, if 100 people visit a webpage and 60 of them leave without doing anything else, the bounce rate is 60%.

What does a high or low bounce rate mean?

Bounce rate isn’t good or bad on its own — it depends on the context and purpose of the page.

• A high bounce rate (e.g., 70% or more) could mean:
  • The content didn’t meet the user’s expectations.
  • The page was too slow to load.
  • The user didn’t find a clear next step.
  • The design or mobile experience was poor.
• A low bounce rate (e.g., under 40%) might suggest:
  • Visitors are engaging with your content.
  • They’re navigating to other pages.
  • Your calls to action are effective.

However, in some cases, a high bounce rate is normal or even expected — for example:

• A visitor finds the answer they were looking for on a blog post and leaves satisfied.
• A landing page has one clear goal (like form submission), and the user finishes it without clicking elsewhere.

How bounce rate affects SEO

Google has stated that bounce rate is not a direct ranking factor, but it can influence your SEO indirectly:

• High bounce rates may indicate poor content or user experience, leading to lower engagement metrics.
• If users frequently return to search results after visiting your site (a behavior known as pogo-sticking), it may hurt your site’s perceived relevance.

That’s why it's important to understand the intent of each page and optimize accordingly.

Tips to reduce bounce rate

• Improve page speed – Slow pages cause users to leave quickly.
• Enhance mobile usability – Ensure your site works well on phones and tablets.
• Write engaging, relevant content – Match user intent and provide value fast.
• Use strong internal linking – Guide users to related pages and keep them exploring.
• Add clear calls-to-action (CTAs) – Tell visitors what to do next.

In summary, bounce rate measures how often visitors leave your site after viewing just one page. While not always negative, a high bounce rate can signal issues with content, design, or user experience — all of which are crucial to your website’s success.