If you are looking at your Google Search Console report and wondering why your blog posts or landing pages are not getting the clicks they should, you are not alone. High impressions but low clicks? Pages stuck on page two? Average CTR below one percent? That is all a sign that your content is showing up, but not standing out.
The good news is you do not need to write new blogs to improve CTR and rankings. You just need to optimize what is already working halfway. And Google Search Console gives you everything you need to fix it.
Here is how to improve your average click-through rate and average position with smart updates that compound over time.
Start by finding the right opportunities inside GSC
Do not waste time guessing which blogs to fix. Open Google Search Console. Go to the “Search results” section. Filter by “Pages” and sort by highest impressions. Look for pages with high impressions but low CTR—anything under 1.5% is usually underperforming.
Then switch to the “Queries” tab and see which keywords are triggering that page. Pay close attention to the ones where your average position is between 5 and 20. Those are the easiest wins. They are already visible but need a push to climb or get more clicks.
This is where your leverage is.
Your title is the first thing users see in the results. If it is boring, vague, or keyword-stuffed, people will scroll right past it. Your title should be:
- Clear about the benefit
- Closely matched to the search query
- Written like a headline, not a label
If your keyword is “how to increase app downloads,” don’t just title it “How to Increase App Downloads.” Try “How to Increase App Downloads Fast (No Ads Required)” or “10 Tactics to Get 10,000 App Downloads in 3 Months.”
Use brackets, numbers, and direct benefits. Keep it under 60 characters. And test variants if you are unsure.
Make your meta description useful not robotic
Meta descriptions do not directly impact ranking, but they do affect clicks. And most people forget to update them.
Write them like an ad. Focus on what the reader will get from clicking. Avoid phrases like “In this blog post we will cover…” and go straight to the value.
Try this: Instead of
“This post explains how to use SEO to improve website traffic”
Say
“Use these five SEO updates to increase traffic without writing new content”
Make sure it includes the main keyword naturally and gives a reason to click.
Update the content to match the keyword better
Sometimes your page is ranking for a keyword that it does not fully cover. That is why it is stuck at position 12. Open the query list and find the keywords you are almost ranking for. Add sections that cover those topics clearly.
For example if a page ranks for “vet practice valuation calculator” but does not include any pricing formulas, add one. That one update could bump the page into the top five.
You do not need to rewrite the whole blog. Just strengthen the part that Google is already associating with that query. This helps both position and CTR.
Improve your H1 and intro so readers stay longer
If Google sees a lot of people clicking your link and bouncing back in five seconds, it will slowly push your ranking down. One way to fix that is to start with a stronger intro.
Your H1 should match the page title but also pull the reader in. Your intro should answer the question “Why should I care?” in the first three lines.
Use a hook that calls out the pain point. Add a stat if you have one. And make the promise of the post clear. The faster the reader understands the value, the better your engagement metrics will look—and Google pays attention to that.
Add internal links to strengthen topical relevance
If you have multiple blogs covering related topics, link them together. This helps Google understand your site structure and which content clusters deserve higher rankings.
Example
If you have a blog on “how to value a veterinary practice” and another on “mistakes that lower valuation,” make sure they are interlinked with relevant anchor text.
Not only does this help SEO, it also keeps users on your site longer—which improves both behavior signals and brand authority.
Use schema markup where it makes sense
If your page includes a list, FAQ section, or product info, add schema markup. This increases your chances of showing up with rich snippets—stars, bold answers, or dropdowns—which improves CTR even if your position stays the same.
Google does not guarantee rich snippets, but if your content is clear and marked up properly, you give yourself a major advantage.
You can add schema manually or use a plugin like Rank Math or Yoast if you are on WordPress.
Refresh old posts with new data or insights
If your blog is ranking but has not been updated in a year or more, Google may start pushing it down in favor of fresher results. Add one or two new paragraphs with updated stats, insights, or examples.
Then go into GSC, reindex the URL using the URL inspection tool, and monitor what happens to position and CTR over the next two weeks. In most cases, you will see a noticeable lift.
Final thoughts
Google Search Console tells you exactly where your opportunities are hiding. You do not need to start from scratch. You just need to fix pages that are halfway there.
Focus on the ones with high impressions, low CTR, and decent positions. Rewrite the title. Fix the description. Strengthen the intro. Cover the missing queries. Add internal links. And keep the page fresh.
If you do that consistently, your average CTR and average position will improve month over month—and your site will generate more leads without writing more content.
Want help building a monthly GSC optimization system for your site? Reach out at Inbound Marketer. We help founders and marketing teams turn underperforming content into top-ranking assets.