What is Click Through Rate?
Click-through rate (CTR) is a marketing metric that measures how often people click on content such as a web page link, advertisement or email.
In simple terms, CTR compares the number of clicks you get on content compared to the number of times that content is shown. A higher click-through rate indicates greater success in generating interest and driving user interaction.
Calculating Click Through Rate
To measure CTR, you’ll need to calculate clicks divided by impressions.
Here’s an example:
Suppose you run a LinkedIn sponsored content and get:
5,000 impressions
250 clicks
Plug this into the CTR formula:
CTR = (Clicks / Impressions) x 100
= (250 / 5,000) x 100
= 0.05 x 100
= 5%
So, the CTR for this LinkedIn sponsored content is 5%.
To measure clicks and impressions, you’ll need analytics software. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Google provide this data within their dashboards. For emails and on-site content, dedicated marketing analytics tools can track CTR.
Why Click Through Rate Matters
Understanding your CTR is important because it indicates how well your content resonates with your target audience.
A high CTR signals that you have compelling messaging that motivates people to click. This helps drive greater engagement.
A low CTR suggests your content is failing to capture attention or encourage clicks. This provides an opportunity to refine your approach.
Optimising CTR is one of the most effective ways to boost conversions and sales. Even minor improvements can have a big impact on your bottom line.
What’s a Good or Average Click Through Rate?
What is a good CTR for LinkedIn ads?
According to Getuplead, the average LinkedIn ad CTR across industries is between 0.44% and 0.65%. For some industries like eCommerce, an average CTR closer to 0.5% may be more typical.
What is a good CTR for Google Ads?
The average Google Ads CTR is between 4-6%, according to WordStream, with anything above 7% considered quite strong. However, click-through rate varies significantly based on your industry, keyword types and individual ad creative.
How to Improve Click Through Rate
Now that you understand the fundamentals let’s explore proven tactics to improve CTR.
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Write compelling copy and headlines
For headlines:
- Grab attention with social proof messaging (e.g. “Popular. 34 sold in the last 24 Hours)
- Highlight value in the headline (e.g. “The ultimate in conversion rate optimisation for eCommerce“)
- Target their pain points or goals (e.g. “How to reduce online returns“)
For body copy:
- Clearly explain the value proposition
- Hit emotional motivators like saving money or time
- Include testimonials or reviews if available
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Use high-quality images
Relevant, eye-catching images boost clicks.
- Show your product or service in use
- Highlight customer testimonials
- Images should reinforce your headline or copy
- Test different image styles/compositions
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Drive clicks with calls-to-action
Clear CTAs tell people what to do.
- Use action words like “Get started”, “Contact us”, or “Download”
- Make buttons visually stand out on the page
- Place CTAs strategically in the content flow
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Target keywords and topics that motivate
Create content around topics your audience cares about. Leverage tools like Google Search Console to identify high-value keyword opportunities.
Target keywords that indicate commercial intent or are further down the funnel. This attracts visitors more likely to convert.
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Personalise if possible
Personalised content can deliver huge CTR gains. Tactics like using someone’s name or location improve relevance.
Tools like LinkedIn’’s Custom Audiences let you segment groups for targeted messaging.
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Test ad placement and layout
Where and how you place ads impacts CTR. Run A/B tests to find what works best.
- Try different ad sizes or formats
- Test different positions like sidebars vs. header spots
- Remove distractions like competing ads on a page
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Analyse and refine over time
Continuously analyse your campaign data using CTR as a key metric. Look for patterns in your top-performing content and worst-performing. Apply those learnings to improve over time. Small tweaks, like changing an image or headline, can boost CTR significantly. So keep testing and optimising.
Succeed with better Click Through Rates with Taggstar
Taggstar enhances Click-through Rates by leveraging real-time social proof. Powered by machine learning, the Taggstar platform offers scalable real-time social proof solutions, including social proof messaging, social proof recommendations, and eXtended Messaging.
Join the growing list of leading global brands & retailers that trust Taggstar to elevate their shopping experiences and drive significant sales lift. Get started today.
