We all know websites listed in the top positions in search engine results get more clicks. What you may not know is just how important a top position is. The chart below shows the percentage of clicks a search engine result typically receives, based on its position on the results page.
Source: AOL Research – 20M web queries, 500K users, 3-month period, 2006
As you’d expect, the top ranked result far outperforms any other with a 42.3% click through rate. But even more important is that 90% of search engine clicks occur in the top 10 results, indicating that 90% of searchers stay on the first page. It’s also interesting to note that 73.5% of clicks happen within the top five results. Getting those high-ranking positions isn’t easy, especially if you’re competing in a crowded category. But if you want to win at SEO, getting to the top is the name of the game.