The difference between position 1 and 2. Statistics?

[algarveb]

We are all very keen to be being position 1, but does anyone have any statistics or evidence on just how much more traffic a site is likely to get if it is position 1 and not position 2? Does being top of the pile have a significant advantage over being postion 2, 3, or 4?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I have often wondered about this myself but I doubt if there are any statistics on this. I would think that position two's effectiveness would be dependent on the description and snippet that appears for position one?

[algarveb]

OK, perhaps 'statistics' is asking for too much - does anyone have any experience of the actual effect of dropping one or two positions, rather than dissappearing totally? We have a site which has held position 1 for the most competitive keywords for 3 years, and over the last week or so, with the update, we have dropped to position 2 and 3 - obviously we are keen to understand what this will mean to us!

Posts on similar experiences will be greatly appreciated!

[idolw]

I noticed that if my adwords ad is at the top (abover results) and not on the right, i get 2-3 times more clicks.
being #2 may mean being #5 if you include ads.
the traffic?
maybe, they are similar but it is cool to be #1 ;)

[Eazygoin]

This may help:
[enquiro.com ]

[algarveb]

idolw - oh yes i know.......

still apart from the 'hurt' i'm feeling of being replaced by a competitor who has in the past been very unkind to our business, i'm keen to know if it will have any lasting effect.....

[algarveb]

Eazygoin - that is very interesting, and encouraging.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Yes, interesting, I remember seeing something like this before. It looks like any top three position is fine.

I did some "testing" on myself and I think that, in Google, when a results page appears I am conditioning the adverts out of my vision. I think I am seeing the blue highlight of the ads at the top of the results not as a highlight but as a shaded or "greyed out" area.

I tend to look straight at the top of the natural results and choose the one with the most relevant title and snippet. This is probably why positions 1, 2 and 3 are equal.