CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Metric

CTR is the percentage of people who clicked an ad after seeing it on their screen.

Layman Explanation & Analogy

CTR measures the magnetic pull of your headline and creative. If 1,000 people see your ad and 30 people click it, your CTR is 3%.

Mathematical Formula

CTR = (Clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100

Worked real-world example

5,000 ad impressions leading to 150 clicks gives a CTR of (150 ÷ 5,000) × 100 = 3.0%.

What people get wrong & common traps

High CTR with clickbait messaging will destroy your budget because visitors will bounce immediately upon reaching your landing page. CTR measures curiosity, not purchase intent.

Related terms