If you’ve been advertising with Google Ads, you may be wondering how your ads are doing. Sure, you’re getting some clicks and conversions — but could you be getting more?
Is your Google Ads CTR good, bad, or average? CTR stands for click-through rate, or the number of people who clicked on your ad, divided by the total number of people who saw it.
The higher your CTR, the better. Higher click-through rates mean more traffic, more engagement, and hopefully, more conversions.
Sections
What is a good CTR for Google Ads?
The average CTR for Google Ads is 1.91% for search ads, and 0.35% for display ads, according to the latest research.
Search ads tend to have higher click-through rates than display ads for two key reasons. First, these ads show up when people are actively searching for something. Display ads, on the other hand, appear on other websites around the web, when people are doing other activities, like browsing, shopping, or watching a video. Secondly, search ads appear above the organic search results, so they’re the first thing people see when they are searching.
If your CTR for Google search ads is around 2% or higher, you can give yourself a pat on the back. That’s generally considered a good CTR. However, depending on your industry, it might still be considered low. Some industries have higher average CTRs than others.
Here’s a look at the average CTRs for Google search and display ads, by industry:
Tips for improving your CTR on Google Ads
Even if your CTR is on the higher end, there’s always more you can do to squeeze a few more clicks from your ads. Try these tips for improving your Google Ads CTR:
- Review your keywords. The keywords you’re bidding on should match up with the products or services you’re advertising. The more relevant your keywords, the more likely people will be to click.
- Optimize your headline. The headline is the largest piece of text in a Google search ad. It shows up in a different color, and it’s often the first thing people see. Make sure yours speaks to a key benefit and drives people to take action. Experiment with different variations to see what works. Pro Tip: Promote a deal in your headline, like free shipping or a percentage-off offer.
- Make your copy count. Once your headline grabs people, your ad copy can convince them to click. Spell out additional selling points for your product or service, and give people a compelling call to action like “Buy Now” or “Get Started.” Use power words like “you,” “best,” “fast, “easy,” or “now.”
- Be #1. Typically, the top ad is the one that gets the highest CTR. This makes sense; it’s the first thing people see. For your top-converting keywords, consider bidding more to score that top spot.
- Utilize ad extensions. Ad extensions add an extra line to your Google search ad result, expanding your real estate in the search results. You can add ad extensions for your business address, phone number, or key website pages.
- Design eye-catching creative. With the average CTR for Google display ads being so low, you’ve got to do everything you can to get people to notice your ad. That starts with developing good ad creative. Start by reviewing your ad analytics to see what creative is performing better. You can also work with an agency to help you design winning creative.
Get more clicks
If there’s one truism to running Google Ads, it’s this: you can always do more to drive better performance.
If you’re not sure where to start, we can help. Our Google Ads experts are pros at developing, optimizing, and fine-tuning campaigns for better performance at a better ROI. Contact us today.
