Increase Click Through Rate with SEO: Top Practices for Higher Clicks

Digital marketers often prioritise various SEO strategies to drive traffic on their websites. However, it is just the first step, actual success lies in how effectively you can engage the traffic and convert them into meaningful actions. In this process, one of the crucial metrics is the Click Through Rate (CTR).
Here in this article, we will explore the concept of CTR, ways to increase click through rate with SEO and more. Read along for further insights.
Understanding Click Through Rate (CTR)
Click through rate (CTR) is an important metric which denotes the percentage of the clicks on your link compared to the total users viewed. The total number of users who viewed the link is determined by the total number of impressions.
The CTR is an important metric used by search engines like Google, Bing etc. to determine the ranking of your webpage on the SERP (Search Engine Result Page). Moreover, it helps you to assess whether you are effectively matching the search intent of the user or not.
CTR can be calculated by dividing the total number of clicks by the total number of organic impressions, which is then multiplied by 100 to determine the value in per cent.
8 Proven Ways to Organically Increase Click Through Rate with SEO
Fulfilling your content marketing goals requires more than just producing quality content; it involves strategically optimising your efforts to organically enhance website traffic and engagement. Here are some of the effective ways you can Increase click through rate with SEO:
Optimise content for Feature Snippet:
The best strategy for increasing the click through rate is by aiming for "Position Zero" in the SERP instead of aiming for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. You can achieve this 'Position Zero' through a featured snippet that appears above the first result in the SERP. It typically pulls content from the top 10 results, so if your website ranks in the top 10, you have a higher chance of being featured as a snippet.
However, to get featured as a snippet you will first have to get a clear understanding of its purpose and how it works. Usually, a search engine displays a featured snippet to directly answer a query. Therefore, if the intent of search query matches with your high quality engaging articles, it has a very high probability of getting featured in the "Position Zero".
Use Creative Meta Titles:
Using a creative meta title can help you to increase your CTR. There are several ways of creating engaging meta titles such as framing relatable context, writing emotional titles, using sensory words, using numbers and more. These can work as a charm if you can combine all these. Here you will have to try out various types of meta titles for an article to figure out which one works better.
Please note that do not write clickbait meta titles, clickbait meta titles can increase the bounce rate of your webpage, resulting in poor ranking.
Use Power Words in your Meta Description:
A well-optimised and compelling meta description can help you to improve your click through rate. Consider using power words in meta descriptions, a best meta description comprise of a few keywords incorporated as organically as possible. Moreover, try to answer the search intent in an active voice using powerful words. Furthermore, consider adding a CTA to encourage users to click on your website.
Get Aligned with User’s Search Intent:
It is important to understand the search intent of the keywords during the content audit and planning stages. This helps in properly structuring the content and adding valuable insights to cater to the user’s needs. Therefore, always dig deeper into the search intent of the user and ask yourself why the user is performing these searches. This approach ensures that your content and structure are well aligned with the search intent of the user.
Incorporate Schema Mark-Ups:
Schema mark-ups are a type of code if used in a website that helps search engines deliver more visually appealing results to the users. It can enhance the appearance of a feature snippet by clearly highlighting the specific text present on the website. This in turn helps users to clearly understand what is meant by a snippet. Incorporating a schema markup can help in displaying additional information such as reviews, ratings, prices etc.
Use Long & Descriptive URLs:
The website URL is a crucial piece of information shown on the search engine results page. Always optimise the URL to make it descriptive, so the user can easily understand the webpage's focus. Also, be sure to carefully optimise the slug while developing new pages and in case you have to change the URL structure, do it in an SEO-friendly manner.
Localise Your Content:
Localising content is another effective way to increase click through rate with SEO. As the number of mobile users is increasing over desktop users, search engines like Google and Bing tend to offer more localised results by accessing their location. Hence, adding a location in a title or in a meta description can sometimes help in enhancing the click through rate of your webpage.
Use Listicle format:
People always prefer lists instead of lengthy paragraphs, therefore try to frame your article in a list format. Incorporating content in list format also increases the chances of getting featured in the “Position Zero”, thus increasing your click through rate. Google’s algorithm always prefers that type of content which is helpful for its users, listicle format is one of the most practical for majority users.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are several ways to increase click through rate with SEO. Some of them include optimising content for feature snippets, using creative meta titles, using power words in your meta description, getting aligned with the user's search intent etc. Moreover, understanding the search intent during the planning stage can help in structuring the content and adding valuable insights to cater to user needs. Ultimately, a well-optimised CTR strategy is a powerful tool, turning visibility into meaningful interactions and sustainable growth.
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