Pogo-sticking is a term in search engine optimization that describes the behavior of users who quickly hop back and forth between search engine results pages (SERPs) and the search results.
Here’s how it works:
For example, let’s say you search for “parenting tips” on Google. You will probably click on the first result on the SERP, but if you don’t find that page satisfactory, you’ll go back and click on another search result. This bouncing back and forth is known as pogo-sticking.
Some SEOs believe that pogo-sticking, along with other potential user signals, can have a negative impact on website rankings. However, it’s worth noting that Google has stated that they do not use any signals related to pogo-sticking in their ranking algorithms.
Even though pogo-sticking is unlikely to be a ranking factor, it can still drive traffic away from your website.
To avoid pogo-sticking, it is important to analyze why users are leaving your page. Here are the most common reasons for pogo-sticking:
If your web page doesn’t align with the search intent of the users, they will quickly move on to another search result that does. To avoid this, you need to analyze the intent behind a search query before creating content. Search intent in SEO is categorized into
The visual component of web pages is just as important, if not more, than the content itself. If your articles are difficult to read or your website design is outdated and unappealing, people may not trust the information on your site. To avoid this, improve the overall look and feel of your website and ensure it is up-to-date in terms of both content and design trends.
Various factors can contribute to a poor user experience, such as slow loading speed, lack of mobile-friendliness, and annoying interstitials that immediately appear. To prevent this, prioritize optimizing your website speed, avoid intrusive ads, and ensure that your website is mobile-friendly.
Clickbait titles can attract clicks on SERPs, but if the content does not deliver what was promised, visitors won’t stay on your page for long. It’s essential to provide valuable and relevant content that matches the expectations set by the title.
By addressing these factors and improving the overall user experience, you can reduce pogo-sticking and encourage visitors to stay on your website longer.