Google Analytics impact on SEO

[chris424uk]

Hi,

I was just looking at Google Analytics and was wondering a few things that maybe you guys can clear up;

Do things like bounce rate and time browsing the site impact SEO?
Surely if customers aren't hanging around on a page, it's a sign to Google that it's not a quality site?

I've been doing some basic on-page optimisation for my Wordpress site and I think I've covered most bases, but this one struck me as a potential pitfall.

Chris

 

[Alan]

From https://northcutt.com/wr/google-ranking-factors/


A 'maybe' factor

"It’s been theorized that Google looks at search user bounce rate as a ranking factor. Even without Google Analytics or Chrome data this could be easily measured in several ways. Matt Cutts says no, and that tracking how long users remain on a page would be “spammable and noisy”. Yet, SEO Black Hat and Rand Fishkin have run studies that indicate otherwise, and Bing’s Duane Forrester has clearly confirmed that Bing uses it; a factor that they call “dwell time”."

 

[kezzahayles]

I think you'll find that the jury is still very much out on this.

I can't find it right now, but I'm sure the latest MOZ ranking factors survey of industry experts gave bounce rate is a ranking factor practically no importance.

Just the same as every other year, relevant content and powerful links outweigh other factors tenfold.

 

[StevePoster]

Do things like bounce rate and time browsing the site impact SEO?

Yes, because it determines the performance of the site to the target audience. Its all about providing great user experience.

 

[sivmetavm]

Moz has published a new survey, I agree, but it's just a survey resulting from speculations. The sure thing is that bounce rate matters because, what's the point of Google to show your site first for example, and then all people visiting it go away from it? People would then say that the results Google gives are not good, hence bounce rate matters. Considering the time now, i don't think it could be an important factor, I speculate myself now too, as someone could find the answer to his query in a few seconds someone else should spend more time, but that does not make the one website better than the other.

 

[chris424uk]

So, I could make my website have loads of annoying pop-up's which then stop the user from logging off quickly... boom! Job done

Okay, I think it's something worth considering and looking into.

 

[MASSEY]

Yes, because it determines the performance of the site to the target audience. Its all about providing great user experience.

I think it is or would be more complex than that. Some sites would have a naturally high bounce rate even though they are providing the user with what they wanted, for example the definition of a word. If i end up on a site like urban dictionary, i'm not gonna hang around for very long after i've got what i wanted which would simply be a quick scan.

Informational sites will have a high bounce rate even though they are doing what google wants.

 

[MASSEY]

So, I could make my website have loads of annoying pop-up's which then stop the user from logging off quickly... boom! Job done

Okay, I think it's something worth considering and looking into.

Disable the back button in the browser. Not that i would do it myself.

 

[Steve Alphabet]

You're right to say "Surely if customers aren't hanging around on a page, it's a sign to Google that it's not a quality site?".

Bots inflate your bounce rate, so if you think you have a high bounce rate then check where your "hits" are coming from. It may be that your bounce rate for humans is fine...

 

[Ian J]

Informational sites will have a high bounce rate even though they are doing what google wants.

It isn't just supposed information sites as my site has a large number of repeat visitors who stay only seconds. My guess is that they are competitors or suppliers who have a quick look to see if anything has changed.

I also have a blog where the same thing happens but I guess it's more understandable with a blog. I'm wondering whether to remove Google Analytics from the blog as I never bother looking at it anyway

 

[HazelC]

Yes, because it determines the performance of the site to the target audience. Its all about providing great user experience.

I'm in full agreement - that was what I understood the case to be.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

Yet, SEO Black Hat and Rand Fishkin have run studies that indicate otherwise

My understanding of the MOZ study was that it wasn't testing either bounce rate or time on site.

Instead, it was testing what happened if the visitor quickly returned to Google, without viewing another page.

In which case, whether the site had google analytics installed would have no impact on that data.

Steve

 

[chris424uk]

I guess the lessons are the same regardless - write compelling, useful content and people will stay longer = better rankings.

 

[boring-friday]

I guess the lessons are the same regardless - write compelling, useful content and people will stay longer = better rankings.

Google can't tell whats compelling content, do you think google translate would be so bad if they could? They don't measure bounce rate or how long people stay on your site either, if they do then its a tiny factor. You need links, even nonsense sites like moz say so