How many clicks do I need?

The number of clicks you need depends on three factors: your keyword's monthly search volume, your current ranking position, and the position you're targeting.

We start with the average CTR (click through rate) for each ranking position, which you can get by searching Google or use the chart below from Moz.com:
expected SERP CTR chart for first page of Google

How to estimate your click volume

  1. Find the CTR difference. Look up the average CTR for your current position and your target position. For example, if you're in position #5 (approximately 6% CTR) and you're targeting position #3 (approximately 11% CTR), the difference is about 5%.
  2. Add a small buffer. Round up slightly to account for the additional searches your clicks will generate. In our example, call it 6–7%.
  3. Multiply by monthly search volume. If your keyword gets 1,000 searches/month, then 1,000 × 7% = 70 clicks per month.

Use our CTR Calculator to simplify this math.

Target one position at a time. If you're in position #5, aim for position #4 first — not position #1. Once you've moved up, reassess and target the next position.

If you're not on page one, start by targeting position #10 (bottom of page one) and work your way up from there.

Spread clicks over more days. It's generally better to order fewer clicks per day over a longer period than to concentrate a large number of clicks into a few days. For example, 10 clicks/day for 30 days looks more natural than 300 clicks in 3 days.

Allow enough time. We recommend running campaigns for a minimum of 2–3 months before evaluating effectiveness. SEO changes take time to manifest.

Tools for tracking

You can track your keyword rankings and search volume using:

  • Google Search Console (free) — search.google.com/search-console
  • SEMRush or Ahrefs (paid) — Comprehensive keyword tracking and competitive analysis
  • Moz (paid) — Keyword rankings and domain authority tracking