War on Free Clicks: How Paid Clicks Are Taking Over Google Search Results [Infographic]
Can you recall the last time you clicked on a paid search result? If you are like me, it’s probably almost 0% of the time? In fact, when talking about the importance of SEO, I often tell clients that 80% of searchers click on the organic search results while only 20% click on paid search results. However, the lines between “organic” or “editorial” and “paid” is becoming more blurred all the time.
Recent surveys suggest that up to 45.5% of people have trouble differentiating between paid ads from editorial search results, and almost 2 out of every 3 people who search for commercial keywords click on paid Google search results. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, considering how new ad formats now have more real estate on those search results we generate – up to 85.2% of the pixels above the fold!
The following infographic, published by WordStream, shows how online paid advertising has gone a long way since the days of obnoxious banner ads. Slowly but surely, the scales are tipping as the shift from free clicks to paid ones is happening.
[Click here for full size version]
About the Author: David Wallace, co-founder and CEO of SearchRank, is a recognized expert in the industry of search and social media marketing. Since 1997, David has been involved in developing successful search engine and social media marketing campaigns for large and small businesses. Follow 
PixWraps | Jul 28, 2012 | Reply
I’ve always been led to believe that only about 20% of searchers click on paid listings. It is very interesting that those numbers are now increasing as the lines between organic and paid are becoming more and more blurred.
Greg Smith | Aug 17, 2012 | Reply
Great write up brother. This seems to becoming more and more closer to the truth, as the days pass.