Worried about your click-through rates in 2026? Believe it or not, a “good” click-through rate is a lot lower than you think. In a recent study from Ahrefs, the Singapore-based company analyzed Google Search Console data from more than 400,000 websites. The median CTR rate? Less than 2%.
In our new blog, we took a look at the study, along with how you can improve your click-through rates. Read more below!
What Did The Study Say About Click-Through Rates?
- As your website’s domain rating increases, so does its click-through rate. (To learn more about how to improve your website’s domain rating, click here.)
- Larger sites tend to have higher click-through rates since they rank for more “branded and navigational queries.”
- Industries with the “largest” CTR rates included online communities, arts and entertainment, and games. To figure out a good “click-through rate” for your website, you should determine what the median CTR rate is for your industry. One thing to note: click-through rates greatly vary across industries. As listed in the study, “online communities” had a median CTR rate of 3.51% while “news” had a median CTR of 1.63%.
Why Are Click-Through Rates Down in 2026?
Over the last few years, organic click-through rates have been on a steady decline. Prior to the introduction of AI tools, Google features such as “snippets” and “People Also Ask” were some of the main factors contributing to decreased rates. Now, with AI, click-through rates are drastically plunging; as reported by Ahrefs, click-through rates are down more than 58% with AI Overviews. (More than 60% of all Google queries feature an “AI Overviews” answer.)
How Can You Improve Your Click-Through Rate in 2026?
- Write meta descriptions that users actually want to click on. Be sure to include curated keywords that match their search intent.
- Aim for queries that aren’t dominated by AI Overviews.
- Review your schema markup. By tweaking your schema markup, this will allow search engines to index your site better, allowing for a higher click-through rate.
- Write better titles. Your website’s title tag is often the first thing users see. Make a good impression.
Need More Help With Your Website’s Click-Through Rate? Contact Boston Web Marketing Today!
At Boston Web Marketing, we’re here to help you with all of your digital marketing needs. Since 2009, our team has been rated as the #1 SEO, SEM, and Social Media Management company in Boston. From website design to content strategies, we’ll get your website ranking better in no time. To learn more about our digital marketing services, or to receive a free website consultation, contact us on our website or call us at 857-526-0096. We’ll be in touch soon!