Dwell Time
Dwell time is the duration a user spends on a page after clicking a search result and before returning to the search results page, used as an implicit user satisfaction signal.
Dwell time is distinct from bounce rate and time-on-page. It specifically measures the round-trip: click from SERP, read page, return to SERP. Long dwell time suggests the page satisfied the query. Short dwell time followed by clicking another result (pogo-sticking) suggests dissatisfaction.
Google has not confirmed using dwell time as a ranking factor, but their patents and Chrome usage data suggest they measure user satisfaction signals. Regardless, optimizing for dwell time means optimizing for user satisfaction — which benefits SEO regardless of whether the specific metric is a factor.
Increase dwell time by matching search intent precisely, providing comprehensive answers, using clear formatting (headings, bullet points, code blocks), embedding relevant media, and linking to related content within the page.
Related terms
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate is the percentage of sessions where a user leaves your site after viewing only a single page without any meaningful interaction, as redefined in Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
Pogo-Sticking
Pogo-sticking is a search behavior pattern where a user clicks a search result, quickly returns to the SERP, and clicks a different result — indicating the first page did not satisfy their query.
Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of users who click on your search result after seeing it in the SERP, calculated as clicks divided by impressions.
Stop shipping broken SEO
Indxel validates your metadata, guards your CI/CD pipeline, and monitors indexation — so you never miss an SEO issue again.