Introduction

If you are in the SEO business, there is a chance that you have come across the term click depth and its rumored influence on your website’s visibility. But what is click depth, and is it a real Google ranking factor? Or is it just another SEO myth? Let’s find out.

What is Click Depth?

Let’s say a user is searching for “best running shoes for beginners” on Google. Google presents them with a SERP result with a list of links. The user clicks on the first result, a complete guide that analyzes different running shoes. After thoroughly scanning the guide, they feel that a review on the website that specifically talks about beginner-friendly shoes might be more relevant to their needs. So, they go one click deeper into your website with the hope of finding their perfect shoes. In SEO terms, that second click is click depth. It is about how far users have to go to reach a specific page on your website. In other words, it refers to the number of clicks a user needs to take from the landing page to reach a specific page on your site. In the example above, the click depth is two (one initial click on the SERP and another click within the search results). For example, if a user lands on your homepage and reaches your blog post about “The Best Hiking Trails in California” with just one click, that blog post has a click depth of 1. Similarly, if a user needs to click on “Blog,” then “Travel,” and then “Hiking in California” to arrive at the same blog post, the click depth is 3.

Is Click Depth a Google Ranking Factor? The Great Debate

Now the question is, “Does click depth have any importance in Google’s ranking algorithm?” SEO experts have been grappling with this question for years, and the answer isn’t straightforward. The SEO community has long debated the importance of click depth in terms of Google search ranking. Some argue that Google prefers websites with shallower click depths because users can easily find the information they need quickly. Proponents of this theory suggest that Google wants to deliver the most relevant results at the first click. As a result, websites with a well-organized structure that buries important content under layers of clicks are penalized. That’s not it. Other opinions say that click depth holds less weight in Google’s ranking algorithm. They argue that user behavior is a more important factor. If a user clicks through multiple pages on your website, spending some time on each one, it suggests they are engaged with your content, regardless of the click depth. So consider the fact that Google wants to surface those websites that provide a positive user experience.

The Facts That Click Depth Could Be a Ranking Factor

So, what is the truth behind it? The reality is somewhere in between, as with most other things in SEO. Some evidence indicates that click depth could be a minor ranking factor. But it’s certainly not a direct one. Why? There are two major reasons.
  • Click Depth is a User Satisfaction Indicator:
Even if Google doesn’t entirely use click depth in its ranking formula, it can still be a valuable indicator of user satisfaction. A high click depth means that users are not finding what they need on your page. This means you need to re-evaluate your content strategy and make sure it aligns with user intent.
  • Dwell Time Has an Impact:
Click depth is just one part of the consideration. The time users spend on your webpage after clicking through from a SERP is another crucial metric. Google prefers web pages that keep users engaged. A dwell time means that your content is informative and valuable.

Why Should You Consider Click Depth for SEO?

You might ask, “Why should I care about how deep my pages are?” The answer is click depth has a profound effect on SEO for a few reasons.

1. Crawlability and Indexation

Google uses bots to crawl and index web pages. These bots follow links to discover new content. Pages that are deeper within a site’s structure could be harder for these bots to find and index. As a result, pages with a high click depth may not get crawled as often. This can limit their visibility in search results pages. If a page has a high click depth, it signals to Google that it is less important. Google may not index that page or rank it in the search results. On the other hand, pages that are closer to the homepage with lower click depths have a high chance of getting crawled more frequently. These pages can rank better because they are considered more valuable.

2. User Experience

Click depth also directly shows how easy it is for users to find information on your site. A low click depth means that important pages are easy to access, which improves the user experience. When visitors can quickly find the content they need, they engage with your site, spend more time on it, and convert. It could be through buying your products or services or completing other activities. However, a website with a high click depth can frustrate users. They can struggle to find what they are looking for, which can increase bounce rates and reduce conversions.

3. Page Authority and Internal Linking

Pages close to the homepage with a low click depth are linked more frequently. In SEO terms, this means they receive more link equity or link juice. Search engines consider this an important factor to rank those pages better in search results. However, pages that are deep in a website with a high click depth may not benefit as much from internal linking. This is harmful to their authority and ability to rank well.

How to Optimize Click Depth?

Although directly manipulating click depth is not possible, you can certainly optimize your website to improve user satisfaction and indirectly influence click depth.

1. Flat Site Architecture

A flat site architecture minimizes click depth. It keeps the important pages just a click or two away from the homepage. Organize your website’s structure properly so the key content is easily accessible. This helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently and eventually improves the user experience.
  • Create a Logical Hierarchy
Organize your content into categories and subcategories that make sense. Place your most important content closer to your homepage, while less important content can stay further down. This will help users and Google identify what content is most relevant to your site’s goals.
  • Limit Subcategories
Try to keep the number of subcategories to a minimum. For example, instead of having a deep hierarchy (Homepage > Category > Subcategory> Sub-subcategory> Page), create a flatter structure (Homepage > Category > Page).

2. Use Internal Linking Properly

Internal links help reduce click depth by guiding users to related content. When you link content to other relevant pages within your site, you distribute link equity across your pages. It positively impacts their SEO.
  • Link to Important Pages
Include internal links to your most important pages, especially those that are far from your homepage.
  • Use Descriptive Anchor Text
When you are creating internal links, use descriptive anchor texts to give users an idea of what to expect when they click. This will help search engines understand the context of the linked page as well.

3. Optimize Your Navigation Menu

A perfectly organized navigation menu also reduces click depth. It should be easy for users to find what they are looking for without digging too deep into your website. Complicated navigation can confuse users and make them leave your site.
  • Keep Menus Simple
Your navigation menu should be clean and straightforward. It helps users quickly find important sections of your website. Avoid overcrowding your menu with too many options.
  • Use Drop-down Menus Wisely
If your site has many categories, you can use drop-down menus. This keeps your main navigation clean. But be cautious; too many layers can increase click depth.

4. Create a Sitemap

An XML sitemap works like magic for SEO. When search engines crawl your site, it lays out your site’s structure. So the crawlers can easily find all your pages. Regularly update your sitemap to keep search engines aware of any new content or changes.
  • Include All Important Pages
Your sitemap should have all the important pages, including those that have a higher click depth. By doing this, you help search engines discover and index your content effectively.
  • Submit Your Sitemap to Search Engines
Submit your sitemap to search engines to improve crawl efficiency. This is particularly important if you have many pages with a high click depth.

5. Paginate Long Lists or Archives

If your website has a large number of pages, such as blog archives or product listings, you should use pagination. Pagination breaks up large lists into smaller, more manageable chunks. This reduces click depth and improves site navigation. For example, if you have hundreds of blog posts, you can break them into pages with 10 or 20 posts each. Doing this will help users navigate more easily without having to click through dozens of pages to find relevant content.

How You Can Measure Click Depth

Understanding the concept of click depth is one thing, but how do you measure it? Well, there are tools and methods you can use.
  • Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool. You can use it to understand how Google crawls and indexes your site. It helps identify pages with a high click depth by analyzing crawl reports. Check if any pages are not being crawled as frequently. If so, this indicates they are buried too deeply within your site’s structure.
  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog is another SEO tool that allows you to crawl your website. You can analyze different technical SEO aspects, including click depth. Once you crawl your site, Screaming Frog gives you a Crawl Depth metric that shows how far each page is from the homepage. You can use this data to identify pages with a high click depth and adjust your internal linking strategy accordingly.
  • Site Structure Audits
To make the best use of your content and improve the SEO, it is very important to audit your site structure regularly. There’s a very simple way to do that. You can just create a visual sitemap that outlines the hierarchy of your pages. This way, you will get a clear picture of how many clicks it takes to reach specific pages. You can spot areas where click depth is too high and adjust them.

Monitor Click Depth Over Time

Click depth is not a “set it and forget it” factor of SEO. As your website grows and you add more content, you need to monitor and adjust your click depth. So the new pages can be easy to find and your overall site structure remains effective. Track how click depth changes over time. If you notice that certain pages are being crawled less frequently or that user behavior is suffering, it is probably a sign that you need to reduce click depth. Adjust your navigation menus, breadcrumbs, or internal linking structure to maintain optimal click depth.

What Should Be Ideal Click Depth for SEO?

There is actually no standard answer to this question. However, a common rule of thumb is that you should keep important pages within three clicks of your homepage. It’s much easier to navigate, and also search engines can crawl and index efficiently. For e-commerce sites, product pages should ideally be accessible within two clicks. For blogs, important articles should not be more than three clicks away from the homepage. Another important matter to consider is the impact of click depth on mobile users. They are more impatient than desktop users. So click depth can have an even more meaningful impact on their experience. To keep them engaged with smaller screens and limited navigation options, you need to reduce click depth.

Conclusion

Click depth may not be considered one of Google's major ranking factors, but it has an indirect effect on SEO. It creates a better user experience while also meeting the technical requirements of search engines. You just need to find the right balance between click depth and site structure, and voila! Your user engagement and your website’s performance in search results become top-notch. When you see the result, you will understand that it happened somewhat because of keeping important pages closer to the homepage, improving internal linking, and keeping the site structure simple. For sites that regularly publish new content or add new product categories, click depth cannot be overlooked.