Don’t scratch your head any more. iProspect has just released a study on all the meaty information you’ve been asking yourself. It’s no surprise to learn that people don’t go past the first page, but it is interesting to note that a whopping 68% of search engine users click on a result on the first page.

And 92% click on a result within the first three pages. If you’re not in the first three pages the only clients you’ll be getting are those 8% with lots of time on their hands – and we all know what a joy they are to work for…

The study is actually about blended search results, aka universal search and it’s obviously changed our tolerance for results. Now, 49% of users who don’t find what they are looking for on the first page change their search query. So rather than click through those extra 2 pages, they’ll just type something else in. Our desire to go deeper into the black hole (past the first three pages) has decreased from 22% in 2002 to 9% in 2008.

Do we really trust that each of the big three search engines are returning the best results on the first three pages?

I certainly don’t, this survey makes me want to dive into the black hole more often.

Make up your own mind by reading the report.