Bounce Rate Definition

“Bounce rate” is a term used to state the percentage of website visitors that leave a webpage without taking any action on the page. Actions could include clicking on a link, making a purchase, filling out a form, or just navigating through to another page within the site. 

Why is bounce rate important?

A website should serve a purpose for visitors. A high bounce rate means that visitors aren’t finding what they’re looking for in the content they’re encountering or aren’t able to easily navigate to what they want. Here are some reasons that understanding bounce rates is important:

1. A high bounce rate means that visitors aren’t converting on the site. Conversions generally imply sales but can also mean following any other specific call to action such as signing up for something or providing information. 
2. Bounce rates are used by Google as an indicator of where your site should be ranked. If visitors are spending a meaningful amount of time on your site, Google believes it’s more likely to be a quality site and ranks it higher than other sites. 
3. A high bounce rate indicates that your site has issues with user experience. This could mean that the most important content is not properly displayed, load time is slow, navigation is difficult to understand, the copy is unclear, images deter visitors, or there are issues with a number of other factors related to engaging audiences with web content. 

Keeping bounce rate low is one key to improving your rankings on Google and increasing conversions.

What is the average bounce rate for a website?

The average bounce rate is different for different types of business websites. Some actions require more time than others. Here are some average bounce rates according to Custom Media Labs. 

• Retail and e-commerce websites (20%-45%)
• Business-to-business websites (25%-55%)
• Lead generation websites (30%-55%)
• Landing pages (60%-90%)
• News, events, and blogs (65%-90%) 

Some web pages have high bounce rates by nature. Some high bounce rate examples include contact pages, submission forms, and confirmation pages. These pages are meant to have easily accessible information that serves a specific purpose. 

Should you be concerned about bounce rate?

Any company with a website ought to be concerned about how it’s performing. If you’re a business owner, whether you have a limited liability company, corporation, or another type of legal entity, your company could likely benefit from having an online presence. 

According to Statista figures, more than 263 million American consumers shop online. This equates to approximately 80% of the population. This number is projected to climb to 291.2 million by 2025. Not all businesses involve e-commerce, so the shopping statistics may not apply to you, but allowing potential customers to find you digitally could make a big difference in your company’s success. 

What’s in a name?

You may not realize that the way you talk about your small business online can also impact how it’s discovered. Having a name or mission that clearly defines what your business is about can make it easier for relevant potential customers to find you. Take this into consideration when choosing your name, along with the naming regulations for your specific state. From there, we can help you check that your name is available with our Business Name Checker tool. 

Summary

Bounce rate, by definition, describes the standard metric used to calculate when a person visits a web page and does nothing before leaving. 

How we can help

Now that you understand the bounce rate meaning and a little more about the value of a well-functioning website, you may be considering having an online presence for your business. The first step is to register your business domain name. 

We can help you set this up with our Business Domain Name Registration Service. This is the way people will find you online, and the name you choose can impact important factors such as whether you show up in online searches and the value of the traffic that visits your website. 

If your domain name makes sense, it will help to ensure that you’re acquiring web visitors who mean to show up on your site. And if they mean to be there, they’re less likely to bounce.