leadegroot - 12:06 pm on Jul 19, 2011 (gmt 0)

Since many people are citing that time on page and bounce rates are a bigger factor now, doesn't it stand to reason that adding a site search function would reduce time on site? Thereby hurting your potential SERPs?

I would look at it the other way, that site search will increase there time on site.

Option 1 - no site search.
User enters site, doesn't see what they want obviously there or linked and leaves

Option 2 - site search installed
User enters site, doesn't see what they want obviously there or linked, but notes site search, enters terms, clicks to results page, says 'aha!' (hopefully) and goes on and views a third page.

Sounds good to me :)

If they don't use the site search because they can see what they want, or a link to what they want, then the site search being installed makes no difference.