Click-Through Rate (CTR)
The percentage of users who click on a link after seeing it in search results or advertisements.
Click-Through Rate (CTR) is a critical SEO metric that measures the percentage of people who click on your link after seeing it in search results. It's calculated by dividing the number of clicks by the number of impressions, then multiplying by 100.
CTR is an important ranking signal for search engines. A high CTR indicates that your title and meta description are compelling and relevant to search queries, which can positively influence your rankings. Conversely, a low CTR may signal to search engines that your content isn't meeting user needs.
Several factors influence CTR including search position (higher positions typically have higher CTRs), title tag optimization, meta description quality, URL structure, rich snippets, and brand recognition. The average CTR varies significantly by position, with the #1 result typically receiving 30-40% of clicks.
Improving CTR requires optimizing your title tags and meta descriptions to be compelling and relevant, using rich snippets when possible, and ensuring your content matches search intent. Monitoring CTR through Google Search Console helps identify opportunities to improve your search presence.