Is first page better than second page?

[MickC]

Is a top 10 listing really preferable to a top 20 listing? It seems like a simple question, but it's one that occured to me today as I noticed that my new website is now #10 at MSN. I'm really glad that the site is starting to do well on at least one big search engine after a month or so of waiting, but it started me to thinking.

We talk a lot about how adsense does better if it is above the fold on a web page. So, does this apply with equal strength to our search engine rankings? Is being #10 (at the very bottom of the first page) really better than being #11 (at the very top of the second page?

[markp-r]

Hi Mickey,

Hey Congratulations on your Top 10! Great!

As far as being above the fold on search results... #1 is of course preferable... ;)

but, at least for me, I almost always scan the entire first page before I choose any specific website (unless the title is specifically what I seek).

Then, after I scan the search results on page 1... I evaluate the Google Sponsored ads on the right side. Often times they are just what I'm looking for.

So, I vote that anywhere on page 1 is better than page 2 above the fold.

Just my opinion...

[flyer]

> We talk a lot about how adsense does better if it is above the fold on a web page. So, does this apply with equal strength to our search engine rankings? Is being #10 (at the very bottom of the first page) really better than being #11 (at the very top of the second page?

You're comparing apples & alligators. With Adsense, the discussion assumes the visitor is looking at a specific page. Plus you have control over where the ads go.

With SEs, it doesn't matter where your listing is on page 2 unless the visitor makes it to page 2. I'll bet most people never go beyond the first page of results. So the bottom of page 1 is definitely better than top of page 2.

It's moot, anyway, since you can't control your exact position.

[MickC]

I'm not saying that they're the same or that we such granulated control over where our search engine entries are. It's just that one got me to thinking about the other.

I think the real question is: do we tend to be more dismissive of things found at the bottom of the page/below the fold?

[RAD]

I can't remember where I read this but it might help.

Rankings 1-3 get 100% of the "eyeballs" on a SERP (search engine results page), 4 gets 85% and 5 gets 65% and so on.

RAD
www.ParkerComputerGuy.com

[MickC]

That's getting close to what I'm wondering. If this is true then taking that and guessing at the rest we can assume:

4th - 85%
5th - 65
6th - 55
7th - 45
8th - 35
9th - 25
10th - 15

If we assume that 50% go on to the second page then 50% of the original 100% will see positions 11 - 13 as opposed to the 15% that saw you in the 10th position on page 1.

So, if we can't determine where our page will show up, why talk about this at all? For me it's comforting to know that falling off of the first page isn't the end of the world, and could even cause me to get some additional clicks. It doesn't necessarily have to be a race to #1

[CJAndT]

My take on your original question (#10 or #11)

When it comes to search engines, I think the "above the fold" is far less of an issue.
In order to see #11, you first have to scroll down the page, and in the process, see the #10 spot before clicking the next page button.

Ultimately, First page (no matter where) is better than second page (no matter where).

Just my 2c