grippo - 5:26 am on Jun 26, 2012 (gmt 0)

If Google is really using it, it should be called "Return Rate", not "Exit Rate". It's been tracked in google.com, outside G. Analytics. Exit is not allways to SERP, so if G is not using Analytics, exits can't be tracked.

So, how can we describe the phenomenon from that perspective? what can be measured / tracked?

User views a SERP and clicks any url, then:
a) it returns to SERP - G. tracks it
b) it return to SERP and clicks over the red link "ban this domain...", G. tracks them
b) it never returns - nothing to do
c) user clicks another url, start over again.

¿Are you thinking they can use other products data? Like toolbars, Adsense, +1 widgets? Policies let them do that? I'm guessing they shouldn't, but I'm not sure.

Thanks @claaarky et al. for the insights, great post.