engine - 4:15 pm on Aug 23, 2007 (gmt 0)

Consumers are distrustful of search engine sponsored listings and click on such links fewer than twice in every 10 searches, new research has revealed. However, these low click through rates should not be seen as bad news for Google et al, according to the Penn State University analysis of sponsored-link click throughs using actual search engine data. "While the click through was only about 16 per cent, this a real boon for search engines," said Jim Jansen, an assistant professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State and lead author of the report.

Survey: Surfers Click Ads Less Than 2 in 10 Searches [pcw.co.uk]