Glossary · Metrics
Impressions
Definition. An impression is recorded each time your page appears in search results for a query, whether or not anyone clicks. In an era of zero-click searches, impressions are an increasingly important measure of visibility.
Rising impressions with flat clicks is the signature pattern of AI summaries and SERP features absorbing demand. It means you are being seen and not clicked, which is a different problem from not ranking.
Impressions are also the earliest signal that new content is gaining traction, usually weeks before clicks move.
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Related terms
Click-through rate (CTR)
Click-through rate is the percentage of impressions that result in a click. In organic search it varies…
Zero-click search
A zero-click search is one that ends without the user clicking through to any website, because the…
Google Search Console
Google Search Console is Google's free tool showing how your site performs in Search: queries…
More in Metrics: Click-through rate (CTR) · Google Search Console · Rank tracking
Frequently asked questions
What does Impressions mean?
An impression is recorded each time your page appears in search results for a query, whether or not anyone clicks. In an era of zero-click searches, impressions are an increasingly important measure of visibility.
Why does Impressions matter for AI SEO?
Rising impressions with flat clicks is the signature pattern of AI summaries and SERP features absorbing demand. It means you are being seen and not clicked, which is a different problem from not ranking.
What is the most common mistake with impressions?
Impressions are also the earliest signal that new content is gaining traction, usually weeks before clicks move.
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