Dwell Time
How long someone stays on your page after clicking from search results.
The Tradie Take
Dwell time is like how long a customer browses your showroom before walking out. If most people are out in 10 seconds, your window display is misleading or your shop's uninviting. If they stick around for a few minutes, you're showing them what they wanted to see. Google watches that front door.
Definition
Dwell time is the amount of time a visitor spends on your page after clicking through from a search result before returning to the search results. If someone searches "plumber near me," clicks your link, and bounces back to Google after 5 seconds, Google assumes your content wasn't useful. Longer dwell time signals to Google that your content is valuable and relevant.
How It Works
- 1 When someone clicks a search result, Google tracks how long before they return
- 2 Short dwell time (a few seconds) suggests the page didn't answer their question
- 3 Long dwell time signals the content was useful and relevant
- 4 Google may use dwell time as a ranking signal - useful pages rank higher
Tips for Tradies
- Make sure your page content matches what your title and description promised
- Use clear headings, short paragraphs, and images to keep people engaged
- Answer the question people came for quickly and thoroughly