Click Through Rate / Analytics Terms Click Through Rate Click-through rate, or CTR, is a key digital marketing metric that measures the percentage of users who click on a link, ad or call to action after seeing it. It is calculated by dividing the number of clicks by the number of impressions and multiplying the result by 100. For example, if your ad was shown 10,000 times and received 500 clicks, your CTR would be 5 percent. CTR helps marketers assess how well their content or campaign is attracting attention and prompting user action. CTR is used across many channels, including email marketing, search engine advertising, display ads and social media. A high CTR typically indicates that your messaging is relevant and compelling to your target audience. In Google Ads, for instance, a strong CTR can contribute to a better quality score, which may lower your cost per click and improve ad placement. In email campaigns, CTR shows how many recipients engaged with your content beyond simply opening the message. While “good” CTR benchmarks vary by industry and channel, tracking changes over time helps identify trends and opportunities. Improving CTR often involves refining headlines, call-to-action text, ad copy, imagery or targeting criteria. Using strong verbs, addressing user intent and testing variations through A/B testing can significantly improve results. However, CTR should not be the only measure of success. A high CTR without conversions may signal a mismatch between the message and the offer. When paired with conversion rate and cost metrics, CTR provides valuable insight into campaign effectiveness and helps inform better marketing decisions.