What does "bounce rate" mean in terms of website/blog statistics?

Definition

Bounce rate is a website analytics metric that measures the percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only a single page, without taking any further action. In simpler terms, a "bounce" occurs when someone visits your site and then exits without exploring additional pages or engaging with your content.wikipedia+1​

How It's Calculated

The bounce rate is calculated using this formula:neilpatel+1​

Bounce Rate = (Unengaged Sessions / Total Sessions) × 100

For example, if 1,000 people visit your website and 400 of them leave after viewing only one page without any interaction, your bounce rate would be 40%.

What Counts as a Bounce?

In modern analytics platforms like Google Analytics 4, a session is considered a bounce if it meets all of these criteria:wix+1​

• Lasts less than 10 seconds

• Does not trigger a conversion event (like a purchase or signup)

• Does not include multiple page or screen views

Why It Matters

Bounce rate is useful for understanding:piwik+1​

• Page effectiveness: Whether a landing page is successfully capturing visitors' interest and encouraging them to explore further

• Content quality: If visitors are leaving quickly, it may indicate the content doesn't match their expectations or needs

• Marketing alignment: Whether your advertising or targeting is reaching the right audience for your content

• User engagement: The overall "stickiness" or ability of your site to keep visitors engaged

What's a Good Bounce Rate?

Bounce rates vary significantly by industry and website type:semrush+1​

• 40% or lower: Generally considered good

• 40–55%: Moderate range

• 55% or higher: May indicate room for improvement

• Industry average: Around 44%semrush​

Note that blogs typically have higher bounce rates than e-commerce sites, since visitors often come for specific content rather than to browse multiple pages.wix​

Important Clarification

Bounce rate is not a direct Google Search ranking factor, despite common misconceptions. However, it can help you assess how engaged users are with your content and may inform your optimization efforts.wix​

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounce_rate
2. https://piwik.pro/glossary/bounce-rate/
3. https://neilpatel.com/blog/bounce-rate/
4. https://www.semrush.com/blog/bounce-rate/
5. https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/bounce-rate
6. https://www.fullstory.com/blog/what-is-a-good-bounce-rate/
7. https://www.fullstory.com/blog/bounce-rate/
8. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-bounce-rate-fix
9. https://themeisle.com/blog/what-is-bounce-rate/
10. https://www.woopra.com/blog/bounce-rate-analytics