Definition
Impressions in Google Search Console represent the number of times a link to your site was visible in Google search results. An impression is counted each time your URL appears in search results, even if the user doesn't scroll down to your result. Impressions are an indicator of your site's overall visibility in Google. A high number of impressions with few clicks indicates a CTR problem (unattractive titles or descriptions). Rising impressions mean Google is ranking your site on more queries or search volumes are increasing on your existing queries.
Key Points
- Number of times your pages appear in Google results, clicked or not
- Indicator of overall visibility and keyword coverage breadth
- Available in Google Search Console with detail by page and query
Practical Examples
Opportunity detection
Analysis reveals 50 pages generate over 1,000 impressions/month but have a CTR below 1%. Optimizing titles and descriptions of these pages could generate hundreds of additional clicks without ranking effort.
Backlink impact
After obtaining a backlink from an authority site via LemmiLink, a page's impressions go from 500 to 3,200/month, indicating Google is now ranking it for more queries.
Frequently Asked Questions
A low impressions-to-clicks ratio indicates a CTR problem. Optimize your title tags and meta descriptions to make them more attractive and relevant. Use numbers, questions, or power words to encourage clicks.
No, impressions are not a Google ranking factor. It's the opposite: your ranking determines your impressions. However, a good CTR (clicks/impressions ratio) is a signal Google may take into account to adjust positioning.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07