I was looking through my stats for one of my sites and noticed something. CTR for users who come in via google is way below the site's overal CTR average (by about 50% infact). People comming in from Yahoo are much higher, and people from AOL are slightly higher again.

So...are people using Google more "Savvy" about the internet, and/or less interested/gullible about adverts? Maybe people who prefer (or don't know any better!) to use Yahoo/AskJeeves/MSN etc more likely to click on ads?

Anyone else noticed a similar thing with their stats?

Starting to wonder if the pursuit of a high google ranking first and foremost is barking up the wrong tree when 3 times as many people will click if they come from Yahoo...:sorcerer:

Absolutely true, and it makes total sense.

There's nothing wrong with targeting Yahoo and MSN with SEO. It's sure as heck a lot easier to get ranked. I know people who make almost all of their money from Yahoo/MSN traffic and couldn't care less if Google dropped off the face of the earth tomorrow.

it makes total sense

I also agree.

Great idea you got there!

It goes beyond CTRs to general conversion on offers, with AOL and MSN being tops. I mean who really uses those engines? People who don't know how to change their default page. eCommerce Conversions on AOL and MSN PPC programs are higher as well.