Glossary Term

    Dwell Time

    Last updated:

    Quick definition: Dwell time is the length of time a searcher spends on a webpage after clicking from search results, with longer dwell time signalling content quality and relevance to Google.

    What it means

    Dwell time is measured from the click to the moment the user returns to the search results. Short dwell times (under 10 seconds) suggest the content did not satisfy intent, a behaviour pattern called "pogo-sticking".

    While Google has not officially confirmed dwell time as a direct ranking factor, behavioural signals correlate strongly with rankings.

    Why it matters for real estate SEO

    Real estate landing pages with thin content, slow load times, or aggressive lead-capture popups produce short dwell times and lose ranking ground over time. Detailed neighbourhood guides and listing pages that hold attention compound their ranking advantage.

    Related guides

    Related terms

    Search Intent
    Search intent is the underlying reason behind a query: informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.
    Bounce Rate
    Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page, with high bounce rates on real estate sites often indicating a mismatch between search intent and page content.
    Core Web Vitals
    Core Web Vitals are Google's three page experience metrics: LCP, INP, and CLS.
    Backlink
    A backlink is a link from another website pointing to yours, acting as a vote of confidence to Google.

    Need backlinks that signal real estate authority to Google? Our niche packages are built specifically for agents and brokers.

    Back to full glossaryView Packages
    Chat with us!