"Sponsored" links drawing clicks away from "pure" results.

What % of clicks do they draw?

[skibum]

Just wondering if anyone has any idea of what percentage of clicks the sponsored links on say YAHOO!, MSN, or AOL get, and if anyone has any stats on the percentage of clicks that go different places on the search page, and how it changes as Overture and other "featured listings" proliferate?

[Brett_Tabke]

That kind of data would be valuable. Other than personal experiences, I don't think there is anything public. We had a conversation last weekend, about how we felt users are getting hip to paid placement and avoiding clicking on it. I think they are getting hip to it.

[skibum]

Very valuable. At times a page head banner and a top listing seem to experience a bit of "synergy" in that the tandem on the same page gets more combined clicks than if they were on two separate pages. Knowing the actal distribution of traffic off the page would be very handy.

[ritualcoffee]

I had an interesting conversation with my google rep and it seems that on their sponsored links if there are two - the bottom one gets higher click thru rates - I think it is because it is closer to "pure" results.

[john316]

>>the bottom one gets higher click thru rates - I think it is because it is closer to "pure" results. <<

The same thing with overture, #3 seems to be the winner as far as clickthroughs go..#2 is absolute worst.

[Robert Charlton]

On regular search results, I often find myself skipping over #1. Interesting about #2 being the worst. For optimizing work, I guess I'll have to shoot for 3 thru 6. ;)

In addition to data about how much sponsored links are pulling away from regular results, it would be interesting to get info on whether sponsored links are becoming less productive as surfers catch on to them.

[ritualcoffee]

I'll talk to my rep and see what I can find out - we spend enough cash with them I should be privy to some info! ;)