Eyetrack Study

It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which search engine results are favored among web users. However, it always helps to have scientific research on your side.

Search marketing firms Enquiro and Did-it along with eye tracking firm Eyetools did a recent study which revealed a significant difference in how people "scan" search results. The image below demonstrates the data obtained from the study and what was later coined as an "F" shaped scan pattern by web users.

Notice how the "organic" search results are overwhelmingly favored compared to the paid listings. This simply says that search engine marketing needs to have a strategic balance.

If nothing else maybe that eye-scan image could find some use over at weather.com, no?

More info on the research can be found via searchenginewatch.com.