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Sphinn Home » Searching
Is Google using bounce rates for ranking websites?
Searching News Source: http://www.huomah.com
Published: Dec 10, 2008 - 08:52 am
Story Found By: Ruud 1159 Days ago
Category: Searching
Post stands by itself (valid, good stuff; balanced) but another key part I liked is: "I think what is the most troubling is how the SEO industry, generally speaking, seems to not only slowly begin to see the evolution of SEO, but makes bold statements instead of tempered, researched hypothesis. [...] Does everything need to be a BIG story these days?"
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from Ruud 1159 Days ago #
Votes: 1

In response to that "big story" part -- I think we all would like to point back and say, "see, I predicted that in XYZ!" -- hence the bold statements and predictions. On top of that search (information retrieval + sorting the retrieved information) is so ... black box ... to most of us that simply by predicting stuff boldly one can create the impression of visionary. Nothing needs to come from these predictions as unless they’re confirmed by Google you can’t be 100% sure they came true or not.

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from theGypsy 1159 Days ago #
Votes: 2

Tnx fer da Sphinn Ruud - I am also curious what, if any, editorial responsibility industry authority media should have? Too often those publications we look up to are engaging in bold statements and hype to get readers engaged. I personally don’t care, as I tend to use my own senses, research and testing. But what of less experienced SEO enthusiasts? I had to spend time talking recently with a client that went to PubCOn and picked up some ’bad information’. Why am I doing this? Because supositions and musings become gospel with those less inclined to investigate for themselves.My fav guy, Bill (Slawski) taught me early on to be using phrases like "Google may be" "How Google might" "One way search engines could" - there isn’t much room to misinterpret that. When we have statements like; "Ranking reports are dead" (citing personalized search/behavioral metrics) and "There is a real possibility that bounce rate is a significant ranking factor right now." - It is easy to see how this can cause undue mythology in the indsutry. As you said, without some type of serious research or statements from Google, we can do nothing more than speculate to a large degree... Granted I am more the geek than the marketer, so ’Big Stories’ aren’t as meaningful as ’actionable information’....

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from Sugarrae 1158 Days ago #
Votes: 0

This post on the same topic was already hot less than two weeks ago? http://sphinn.com/story/86981

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from HeadlandDigital 1158 Days ago #
Votes: 1

Bounce rates are related to quality of content, as are SERP ranks. Therefore the two may be indirectly related.

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from theseoguy 1158 Days ago #
Votes: -2

Of course they are.  Everything you do on your browser is recorded in their cookie(even when your not at Google) open their cookie and take a look for yourself.  If they show it to you at my account then it’s probably important information.  That’s why so many people recommend not being a link miser.  Link to other pertinent information a user may want, to lower your bounce rate.

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from amabaie 1158 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Hi Ruud. I just published an eBook around this very concept - not just bounce rates, but related user actions - and how we can prepare our websites to adapt to this evolving algorithm.  It is not clear to what degree, if any, bounce rates arepart of the algorithm yet, but there is no question in my mind that it will be.  Bots might be an issue, but that’s part of the cops and robbers games that the search engines and the spammer will keep playing.  It’s no more insurmountable that automated link-building.My ebook is at http://www.seo-writer.com/books/sticky-seo.html and is free (no charge, no cost, no upsell).

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from SeriesOfTubes 1158 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Google must match user intent with content delivered to effectively incorporate bounce rate into the Algorithm.  They’ll never do that well enough to risk thier search business.Also, there is a firewall between buy side (adwords) and revenue side (adsense),  and using bounce rate comes way to close to that line for Google to risk monopoly claims from Uncle Sam.

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from leftthebox 1158 Days ago #
Votes: 0

Rae, yes the topic was covered and went hot, but if you read this article you’ll notice that Dave talks about more than just bounce rate. He talks about how people aren’t testing or researching things enough, but instead extrapolating something they saw to create the result they wanted. Dave goes on to say that yes Bounce Rate is being used, but it’s not a major part of the ranking. He introduces the idea of dirty signals and explains them.The post is well thought out and definitely deserves to go hot. It matters little that it covers the same over-all topic that http://sphinn.com/story/86981 does, beause it introduces new concepts and explains a lot more.

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