Search marketing firms Enquiro and Did-it.com and eye tracking firm Eyetools have conducted a joint study that confirms what newspaper and magazine publishers have known for years: above the folder is better.
According to Did It’s Kevin Lee, “At this point, we weren’t too surprised at what we’ve seen in the study. We suspected much of this to be true prior to conducting it. However, there is tremendous value in confirming these suspicions, especially in a way that’s so visually compelling. It also proves that our methodology will hold up for phase 2 of the research. On the sponsored search side, data indicates is the clear branding and visibility advantage offered by gaining top positions, especially Google’s top sponsored links.”
The study says that not only “above the fold” (or the top 5 positions) are better and receive 50 – 80 percent more traffic than below the fold, but also left side is better than right side of the page as a visual hotspot for searchers. This means that in Google, the sponsored links on top of the organic listing receive much more traffic than the sponsored links on the right side of the page.
The hotspot of most eye activity on a page is referred to as the “Golden Triangle” with the most activity being on the page’s upper left-hand corner. This triangle roughly corresponds to the Golden Mean or Rule of Thirds used in photographic composition and also widely used in art and architecture dating back to Ancient Egypt and Greece. The only caveat is that the Golden Triangle is skewed towards the upper left.
This study is important for advertisers who wish to find the right placement on a search engine for their paid advertisements. It is also important for usability analysts and page designers to use this information to achieve whatever business goals need to be achieved.
So, to recap: top left is right and top right is left out, so choose your position wisely when placing elements or advertising on a page. They eyes have it. Enough said.
Google says right under thenav bar is the best place but I have found that on top is the best followed by left side. The worst is on the bottom and the right side is poor, but OK if you are at the very top of the right side.
Anything below position three gets lost in the spiral of death, which means low CTR = low sales = bankruptcy.
Heyy, Cool post! I will definatley be coming back soon!=)