What is Average Position?
TL;DR
In Google Search Console, the average ranking position for a query or page in Google search results. Position 1 is the top organic result; position 10 is typically the last result on page one. Average position is calculated across all impressions, so if you rank #3 for one search and #15 for another, your average might be #9. This averaging can be misleading, a #5 average might mean solid #5 rankings across queries, or wild swings between #1 and #20. Look at position distributions in Search Console for clearer understanding. Average position below 10 generally means page one visibility; below 3 means prime real estate. Track position changes after Search Engine Optimization work to measure impact, but remember that position alone doesn't guarantee Clicks (Search), CTR (Click-Through Rate) matters too.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Average Position
What does average position mean in Search Console?
It's your average ranking across all searches where your page appeared. Position 1 is the top result. An average of 8.5 means you're typically near the bottom of page one, decent visibility but room for improvement.
Why does my average position show a decimal?
Positions are averaged across many searches. You might rank #3 for some queries and #12 for others, the average could be 7.5. Look at individual query positions for clearer understanding of where you rank.
What's a good average position to aim for?
Below 10 means page one visibility. Below 3 is prime real estate, most clicks go to positions 1-3. If you're averaging 15-20, you're rarely seen. Focus on moving high-potential keywords to page one first.
My average position improved but traffic didn't, why?
Position alone doesn't guarantee clicks. You might rank higher for low-volume queries while slipping on high-volume ones. Or your CTR is low because titles and descriptions aren't compelling. Check both metrics together.
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