Google Places / Map Results CTR vs Top Organic Result

[David_ODonnell]

I have a client who is currently ranking close to the top of the Google Places results for a handful of important local keywords.

They have a competitor who is pretty consistantly ranking in number #1 and #2 organic positions, above the Places results.

Does anyone know the average click through rates for results similar to these? Do the #1 and #2 organic positions still outperform the lower placed Google Places (with side map) results when the search intent is very local?

I just wonder if they are possibly in a better position as-is if people are more likely to use the map or places listings on the SERPs page, rather than click through to another site.

Thanks

[Chenzo]

David, I have exactly the same issue with a few clients myself and what I have found is, if the client is a business that caters to just one specific area vs a larger span then the click throughs will vary and the customer reviews with close proximity of location tend to do best.

[MoosaHemani]

Being on number 1 is always better then number 2 but if the 2^nd place is of Google place with the map with it I guess it should attract more eye balls but to be sure why not you play a heat map on SERP results to have an idea! #justsaying

[David_ODonnell]

A heat map on specific Google SERPs would be awesome, if it were possible.

[David_ODonnell]

Thanks for your input, Chenzo.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi David,

While I don't have explicit CTR data to share with you, I do believe you will like this eyetracking article:

http://connect.icrossing.co.uk/eye-tracking-experiment-google_7109

In one of the screenshots, you can see the greater heat in the local area of the page, vs. the upper organic results.

Does this help with your query?

[David_ODonnell]

Very awesome, just what I was looking for.

Thank you!

[David_ODonnell]

...and ironically enough, that post links to another, right back here on SEOmoz blog!

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/eyetracking-google-serps

[MiriamEllis]

Haha - I didn't notice that, actually. Here are a couple more links, too, David, that might be good to look at:

http://searchengineland.com/mediative-eye-tracking-google-maps-study-100783

http://results.mediative.ca/Mediative_White-Paper-Google-Places-on-the-iPhone.html

So glad the first one was helpful.