Google Analytics F.U.Q.- Bounce Rate, Really?

Google Analytics is a great tool, no doubt about it. It’s also pretty complex and therefore the F.A.Q. list will be big. Most of the questions will have an answer in the Google Analytics Help Center, but there will always be questions you probably won’t find the answers at all. I call them F.U.Q. - Frequently Unanswered Questions.

Let’s take a look at the bounce rate report. Mainly, bounces are defined as a single page visits to your website. Bounce rate will apply to your landing pages (the destination URLs of your PPC or banner campaigns or search results in search engines, emails, etc).

If you have content that is accessible only by login into your account or if your checkout pages are accessible only from previous pages, how can they have bounce rates? How can an a page that is not accessible without coming from a previous page can have a “bounce rate”? It should ony have an exit rate, isn’t it?

If the order confirmation page or the thank you page is only accessible after visitors log in into their accounts there shouldn’t be any bounce rate! Really? Take a look at the Top Content report and see if any of your secure/checkout pages are displaying bounce rates.