How to Improve YouTube Clickthrough Rate

Published on 05.12.2025 by Chizoba T

With over 500 hours of YouTube videos uploaded every hour, the platform can be competitive, which is why many videos end up getting fewer than 1000 views. To increase your video's visibility, leverage YouTube Analytics to grow your channel.

When considering metrics to improve on YouTube, one that should be on your list is the CTR. This is one of the most critical factors, as it determines whether YouTube will recommend your videos to its users. This guide will help you understand the YouTube click-through rate and show you how to increase it.

What is YouTube CTR?

The YouTube CTR indicates the number of people who watch your video after it is displayed as an impression. It is one of the key metrics that you need to focus on. If your CTR is lower, people will not view your videos in the suggested videos section. On the other hand, if you have a high CTR, you can increase the reach of your videos.

CTR shows YouTube that people are interested in its recommended content. However, it's important to note that CTR alone isn't enough to grow your channel. You also need to improve other metrics, such as audience retention, watch time, satisfaction, and YouTube competitor analysis.

CTR is measured by dividing the amount of clicks by the amount of impressions. The result is multiplied by 100. For example, if 1000 people saw your YouTube thumbnail and only 50 of them clicked on it, we can conclude that your CTR is 3%.

How to See Your CTR on YouTube Studio 

Before focusing on increasing your CTR, you need to determine your current CTR. The good news is that you don't need to calculate anything, as you can see it directly on the YouTube channel. Here are the steps to do that in YouTube Studio: 

  • Go to the navigation menu on the left, then click Analytics.
  • Click on the Reach tab.
  • In the impression graph, choose click-through rate,
  • You can select the period for which you want to track the CTR, such as 7 days, a month, 3 months, a year, or channel lifetime.

What is a Reasonable Click-Through Rate?

There is no definite answer to this question as it depends on different factors such as the niche, number of subscribers, number of views, and the period the video has been on YouTube. For instance, when a video is uploaded immediately, it often gets a higher impression rate because most viewers at that time are subscribers. When YouTube recommends the video in the What's Next " section of YouTube, it will result in a higher impression but a lower CTR.

According to YouTube, 50% of all videos and channels have an impression CTR of 2-10%.  Therefore, if your impressions fall within this range, you aren't doing badly. If your CTR is at 2%, consider the following tips to improve it, which we will cover in our next section.

Remember that a small channel with a few views is likely to have a higher CTR than a channel with thousands of views. When considering your impression and if it is good enough, ask yourself: 

  • Is the impression low because of your low number of videos?
  • Is your impression decreasing because YouTube is showing your content to more viewers? This can lead to fewer clicks as the video reaches new audiences.

Generally, a good impression is anything that exceeds the average for your channel. Some studies suggest that the average YouTube CTR is 4-5%.

How to Increase Your YouTube Click-Through Rate

We now understand how to calculate your CTR. Here are the steps to follow to increase your CTR:

Use Outstanding Thumbnails

When deciding whether to click a video, YouTube viewers first check the thumbnail. It greatly affects your CTR percentage. Thumbnails refer to the small teasers that act as a billboard for your video, telling the viewer whether the video will be interesting. 

Therefore, regardless of the number of subscribers you have, the thumbnails will play a crucial role in convincing your audience to stop and click on the video. Here are some quick tips on creating outstanding thumbnails:

  • Use high contrast and eye-catching colors.
  • Make enjoyable but straightforward thumbnails.
  • Use large, legible, and attention-grabbing text.
  • If possible, use a human face with strong emotions.
  • Make sure the thumbnail accurately represents your video.

Use Captivating and Relevant Titles

Outside the thumbnail, the title is the next key factor affecting the click-through rate. Since the video title appears next to the thumbnail, it offers another opportunity to encourage viewers to click. 

Ensure you include relevant keywords or trending phrases in the title. Keep the title short and use the most important words at the beginning. You can also use these tips to make captivating titles:

  • Use words relatable to your audience.
  • Use numbers where possible.
  • Keep the title within YouTube's character limit.
  • Avoid using clickbait.
  • Include emotive words in your titles, such as easy, competitive, outstanding, profitable, and best-selling. 
  • Have harmony between the title and thumbnail.
  • Include the relevant hashtags.
  • Find inspiration from other YouTube channels.

Have a Good Video Description

The YouTube description serves as website metadata, providing an opportunity to add target keywords and enhance audience retention. If you make your description relevant, you increase the likelihood that it will appear in search results for related videos. 

Therefore, ensure you have a relevant video description that reinforces the title and the search page. This is especially important, as descriptions help YouTube and search engines understand what your videos are about. When creating a video description, use the following tips:

  • Add the relevant keywords and hashtags. 
  • Use the description to offer a clear summary.
  • Add chapters and time stamps.
  • Add the relevant links and calls to action

In Conclusion

If your YouTube click-through rate is high, it signals to the algorithm that you have a relevant and engaging video, leading to higher visibility, more impressions, and faster channel growth. The CTR directly impacts your channel's recommendation, its ranking in search results, and whether Google promotes it on the home page. Use the above tips to increase your YouTube click-through rate. You can read our guide about when to use YouTube Premier vs Live.