Measurement
Pogo Sticking
Pogo sticking is user behavior where a searcher clicks on a search result, quickly determines the page does not satisfy their query, and returns to the search results page to try another result. While Google has not confirmed pogo sticking as a direct ranking signal, it is a strong indicator of poor content-to-intent alignment and negative user experience.
Pogo sticking behavior is inferred from Google Analytics's bounce rate and time-on-page metrics, and from Google Search Console's click/impression CTR data. Reducing pogo sticking involves improving content relevance to search intent, improving page load speed (via PageSpeed Insights), and ensuring the above-the-fold content matches user expectations.
Authority Links
Related Terms
Measurement
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate refers to visitors that leave a web page without engaging with its contents.
Measurement
Average Session Duration
A metric that reports the average amount of time users spend on your website.
Measurement
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Conversion rate optimization refers to the practice of increasing the percentage of users who perform a desired action on a website.
Content
User Intent (Search Intent)
The underlying purpose behind a search query — typically classified as informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional — and the primary signal modern search algorithms use to decide which page format to surface.