Click-Through Rate (Email)

The percentage of delivered emails where recipients clicked at least one link.

1 min readLast updated Apr 2026
Reviewed by Golden Digital·Operator-reviewed ecommerce reference·Benchmark source: Golden Digital field data

The percentage of delivered emails where recipients clicked at least one link.

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Why It Matters

Email CTR directly correlates with revenue—every click is a step toward purchase. Unlike open rate (which Apple privacy inflates), clicks require real engagement. A campaign with 3% CTR sending 100,000 emails drives 3,000 visitors, potentially generating $15,000+ at a 5% conversion rate and $100 AOV.

Benchmarks

A good Click-Through Rate (Email) is 2-5%. Top performers achieve 5%+.

Good Performance

2-5%

Top Performers

5%+

Practical Example

Scenario

A fashion brand sends a sale announcement to 40,000 subscribers. 1,600 recipients click through.

Calculation

1,600 ÷ 40,000 × 100 = 4% CTR

Result

At 4% CTR with 3% site conversion and $85 AOV, they generate approximately $4,080 from this single campaign—a strong performer worth replicating.

Pro Tips

  • 1Place your primary CTA above the fold—many subscribers never scroll
  • 2Use button CTAs instead of text links—they typically get 28% more clicks
  • 3Reduce the number of links—too many choices causes decision paralysis and lowers overall CTR
  • 4Make CTAs specific ('Shop the Sale' vs 'Click Here') to set clear expectations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Cluttering emails with too many CTAs, diluting click focus
Using generic CTA text like 'Learn More' instead of action-specific language
Not mobile-optimizing buttons—small tap targets kill mobile CTR

Frequently asked questions

CTR shows overall campaign performance. CTOR (clicks ÷ opens) shows content effectiveness for those who opened. Use CTR for revenue attribution and CTOR to optimize email content.

Flows are triggered by specific actions (cart abandonment, browse, etc.) making them highly relevant. Campaigns go to broader audiences. It's normal for flow CTR to be 2-3x higher than campaigns.

Put it to work

Related Terms

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