Search engine performance more important than ever: New survey

Search engine performance is more important than ever according to new research conducted by Jupiter Research and sponsored by iProspect.

Survey highlights include:

• 62% of search engine users click on a search result within the first page of results, and a full 90% of users click on a result within the first three pages of search results. These figures were just 48% and 81%, respectively, in 2002.
• 36% of search engine users believe that the companies whose websites are returned at the top of the search results are the top brands in their field.
• 41% of search engine users who continue their search when not finding what they seek, will change engines or change their search term if they don’t find what they seek on the first page of search results. This figure was 28% in 2002.
• 88% of search engine users who continue their search when not finding what they seek, will change engines or change their search term if they don’t find what they seek on the first three pages of search results. This figure was 78% in 2002.

Couple the fact that users do not go beyond page three of the results with the findings of a 2005 Jupiter Research that 87% of commercial clicks take place on the natural (not sponsored) search results and you see the importance of search results.

Robert Murray, President of iProspect, summarized it well in iProspect’s press release.

There’s no question about it. This study clearly shows the increased importance of being found in the top search results. With 62% of users clicking on a result on the first page, and 90% doing so within the first three pages, the message to marketers should be clear, and the implications obvious. After all, 90% is a staggering percentage. If your site is not found on the first page – or within the first three pages of search results – you might as well be putting up a billboard in the woods.

Source of post: beSpacific