You can be on page one and still get hardly any clicks. It happens more than you’d think. Your click-through rate is the share of people who see your result and actually tap it. Improving it is one of my favourite quick wins, because you’re squeezing more out of rankings you’ve already earned.
What is click-through rate?
It’s how many people click your result compared with how many see it. If 1,000 people see your page in Google and 30 click, that’s 3%. Two businesses in similar positions can get very different numbers of clicks. The difference is usually down to how their result looks.
How do you find pages with a low click rate?
Google Search Console. It shows how often each page appears in search, how many clicks it gets and its average position. Look for pages with plenty of impressions and few clicks. Those are your best targets. If you haven’t got Search Console set up, I can sort that for you.
How do you write a title people click?
Say exactly what the page offers, include the town if it’s local, and give one reason to pick you. Prices, same day, family run, free quotes. Keep it short enough that Google doesn’t chop the end off.
Compare “Services | Smith & Co” with “Emergency plumber in Bootle, same day callouts | Smith & Co”. One tells you nothing. The other tells you exactly what you’ll get.
What makes a good meta description?
Think of it as a tiny advert. Say what someone gets, where, and why you. End with a reason to click. Google does sometimes rewrite it, but a good one still gives you the best chance. Keep it to around two short sentences.
Does your title need to match the search?
Yes. If someone searches “emergency electrician” and your title talks about kitchen lighting design, they’ll scroll past. Look at which searches each page shows for in Search Console and make sure the title answers that search. Sometimes the fix is a new page for a search an old page is accidentally showing up for.
Can schema help you stand out?
It can. Schema is code that spells out your page for search engines. It can help Google show extra details, and it helps AI tools understand you too. It isn’t a guarantee, but it’s part of every site I look after.
What about clicks from the map?
For local searches, the map often gets the click before any website does. Photos, reviews, the right category and correct opening hours all affect whether someone taps you or the next one down. See how to get into the Google Maps top 3.
How do you know if changes worked?
Note the date you change a title, then compare clicks for the four weeks before and after in Search Console. Change one thing at a time on your most important pages so you know what made the difference.
What happens after someone clicks?
That’s where the real money is made or lost. A brilliant title gets the click, but the page has to keep the promise straight away. If someone searched for an emergency plumber in Bootle, the first thing they see should say emergency plumber, Bootle and a phone number they can tap. Not a slideshow, not a cookie banner covering half the screen, not a paragraph about your company history.
Speed matters here too. If the page takes ages to load on a phone, the click you worked so hard for turns into someone hitting back and choosing the next result. I go into both in why a slow mobile site costs you customers and how to turn website visitors into enquiries.
Do ads steal clicks from your normal listing?
Sometimes. For busy searches Google puts ads at the top, then the map, then the normal results. That pushes everyone else further down the screen. It’s one reason the map matters so much for local businesses, and why some firms run a small Google Ads campaign alongside their SEO for their most valuable searches. I’ve explained how the two fit together in paid vs organic traffic.
Want me to find your quick wins?
Fill in the form and I’ll look for pages that show up on Google but don’t get clicked, and tell you exactly what I’d change in their titles and descriptions.
If you want me to crack on, it’s £125 a week, about £18 a day, on a 30 day rolling basis.
Free website check
Checked by me, not a tool.
Rather message? WhatsApp 07463 631121 or call 0151 402 0925.
Questions people ask me
What’s a good click-through rate?
It depends on your position and the search. Compare your own pages against each other rather than chasing a set number.
Does click-through rate affect rankings?
Google doesn’t say exactly. Either way, more clicks from the same rankings means more customers.
Why has Google changed my title?
Google sometimes rewrites titles it thinks don’t match the page. A clearer title usually stops that.
How long should a page title be?
Roughly 50 to 60 characters, so it isn’t cut off.
Should I put prices in my title?
If you’re competitive on price, it can work well.
Can I use emojis in titles?
Google often strips them. I wouldn’t rely on it.
How quickly do title changes show?
Usually within days to a couple of weeks, once Google recrawls the page.
Can you rewrite my titles and descriptions?
Yes. It’s part of my SEO fixes and monthly plan.
Keep reading
Titles are one part of the page. On-page SEO basics covers the rest. How to choose the right SEO keywords makes sure you’re ranking for the right things in the first place, and how to get into the Google Maps top 3 covers clicks from the map.
Hi, I’m PeteWant me to find your quick wins?
Send me your website. I’ll look for pages that show up on Google but don’t get clicked, and tell you what I’d change.
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