What is Impressions?
TL;DR
The number of times your content appeared to users, in search results, ads, or social feeds. An impression means someone could have seen you; it doesn't mean they did. In Google Search Console, impressions count when your URL appears in search results, even if the user didn't scroll down to see it. In Google Ads, impressions count when your ad loads. Impressions are a visibility metric, not an engagement metric. High impressions with low Clicks (Search) indicates visibility without appeal, your titles and descriptions aren't compelling enough. Low impressions means you're not appearing for relevant searches. Track impression trends to understand visibility changes; use CTR (Click-Through Rate) to measure how well you convert visibility into visits.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Impressions
Are impressions the same as views?
No. An impression means your content was displayed, it doesn't mean someone actually looked at it. In Search Console, if you're position 8 and the user only saw positions 1-3 before clicking, you got an impression but likely weren't seen.
Why are my impressions high but clicks low?
Your content is appearing in search results but people aren't clicking. This usually means your title and meta description aren't compelling, or you're ranking for keywords that don't match your content well. Improve your meta content.
How do I increase impressions?
Target more keywords with content, improve rankings (higher positions get more impressions), and ensure pages are indexed. Impressions come from visibility, more indexed pages ranking for more keywords means more impressions.
Terms Related to Impressions
Average Position
In Google Search Console, the average ranking position for a query or page in Google search results. Position 1 is the t...
Read definition AnalyticsClicks (Search)
In Google Search Console, the number of times users clicked through to your website from search results. Clicks represen...
Read definition AnalyticsCTR (Click-Through Rate)
The percentage of Impressions that result in Clicks Search, calculated as Clicks ÷ Impressions × 100. In Google Search C...
Read definition AnalyticsAttribution Model
The rule determining which marketing touchpoints receive credit for a conversion. A customer might see a Facebook ad, se...
Read definition AnalyticsBenchmark
Performance standards used for comparison, either industry averages or your own historical data. Benchmarks answer "is t...
Read definition AnalyticsBounce Rate
The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page without any interaction. A high bounce rate (...
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