Article covers: What the industry click-through rate (CTR) benchmark means in your Thryv Social Ads performance report emails, and how to use that benchmark to evaluate your traffic campaign results.

This article does not cover: How to create or edit a Thryv Social Ads campaign, how to improve a low CTR, or how to read other metrics in your performance report. 

Why Knowing Your Benchmark Helps Your Business

Running ads without a point of comparison makes it difficult to know whether your results are strong, average, or need attention. Many business owners see a click-through rate in their performance report and have no way to judge whether that number is good or bad which leads to uncertainty and guesswork about whether their ad spend is working.

Your Thryv Social Ads performance report email now includes the industry benchmark click-through rate range alongside your campaign results. The industry benchmark for Meta (Facebook and Instagram) traffic campaigns is 1.0% to 1.5% CTR. This figure reflects the average click-through rate across Meta traffic campaigns in the small business space and is based on published industry data. Seeing this benchmark directly in your report gives you immediate context to evaluate your results without needing to research industry standards separately.

What Click-Through Rate (CTR) Means

Your click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who saw your ad and clicked on it. For example, if 1,000 people saw your ad and 12 clicked on it, your CTR is 1.2%. CTR is one of the primary indicators of how well your ad creative and targeting are resonating with your audience.

Thryv Social Ads runs traffic campaigns on Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram. These platforms use CTR as a key signal to measure ad relevance. A higher CTR generally means your ad is connecting with the right audience. A lower CTR may indicate an opportunity to adjust your ad image, headline, or audience targeting.

How to Read the Benchmark in Your Performance Report Email

Your Thryv Social Ads performance report arrives by email and includes your campaign's CTR for the reporting period. The report displays your CTR alongside the industry benchmark range of 1.0% to 1.5% so you can compare your results at a glance.

The performance report email shows the following information:

• Your campaign name
• Your campaign's click-through rate (CTR) for the reporting period
• The industry benchmark CTR range of 1.0%–1.5% for Meta traffic campaigns
• A visual indicator showing how your CTR compares to the benchmark range

Use your CTR in relation to the benchmark as a starting point for evaluating performance. A CTR at or above 1.5% indicates your ad is performing above the industry average for Meta traffic campaigns. A CTR between 1.0% and 1.5% indicates performance within the expected range. A CTR below 1.0% may indicate an opportunity to review your ad creative or audience targeting.

"The screenshot below shows a sample Thryv Social Ads performance report email. The email displays your campaign's click-through rate alongside the industry benchmark range of 1.0% to 1.5%, so you can compare your results directly."

Frequently Asked Questions

 Does this benchmark apply to all Thryv Social Ads campaign types? No. The 1.0%–1.5% CTR benchmark applies specifically to Meta traffic campaigns. Other campaign objectives, such as awareness campaigns, use different performance metrics and are not evaluated against this benchmark.

Does a CTR below 1.0% mean my campaign is failing? Not necessarily. CTR is one of several factors that indicate ad performance. A CTR below 1.0% is a signal to review your ad creative, targeting, or offer — it does not mean your campaign has produced no value. 

Will I receive a benchmark in every performance report email? Yes. The industry benchmark CTR range of 1.0%–1.5% is included in every Thryv Social Ads traffic campaign performance report email.