A New F-Word for Google Search Results

[geekerati]

Busted, this is exactly how I scan a search. The results are very interesting, taking into account it was only tested on 50 participants. comments?


A New F-Word for Google Search Results
March 8, 2005

A new study has added tangible evidence to the widely held view that top-ranking search results get the most attention from users, and that lower-ranking results are all but invisible to most people.

The joint eye tracking study conducted by search marketing firms Enquiro and Did-it and eye tracking firm Eyetools found that the majority of eye tracking activity during a search happens in a "golden triangle" at the top of search result pages. The triangle extends across the top natural search result, then angles back to the left of the page down to the bottom-most "above the fold" result, typically in the third or fourth position on the page.

This area was viewed by 100% of the 50 participants in the study.

Results show a "F" shaped scan pattern, with the eye travelling vertically along the far left side of the results looking for visual cues (relevant words, brands, etc) and then scanning to the right, as if something caught the participant's attention.

With both organic and sponsored search results, higher ranking results were viewed more often. Here are results for organic results (percentages represent the number of study participants viewing the listing):

Search Engine Watch / Story
Screenshot