What is Above the Fold Content?
Above the Fold is a term originally used when talking about newspapers. It refers to the content on the top half of the front page, which could be seen without unfolding the paper. The newspaper industry realised that in order to sell newspapers, the above the fold content had to grab the attention of potential readers.
In terms of web design, above the fold refers to the content at the top of a web page, which can be seen without scrolling down. The premise is the same as with newspapers, the above the fold content needs to be compelling so that users stick around and see what else you have to offer.
Is Above the Fold Content Important?
Above the fold content has always been considered as an important SEO factor. If readers like what they see above the fold, they are more likely to scroll down and continue reading or view more pages of your website. Search engines measure how much time users spend on your website. The longer visitors stay on your website, the more this will help your search engine rankings. This is because search engines assume that if users are staying on your site for extended periods of time, your website must be providing useful information.
If your above the fold content does not satisfy the users’ queries, then it is unlikely that they will stay on your website and make a purchase. As we’ve discussed before, a good user experience is equally as important as high search engine rankings. There’s no point in bringing visitors to your site if they don’t become customers. It’s important that above the fold content is relevant to the keywords you are targeting so that visitors immediately know that your website will provide the information they require.
How to Optimise Above the Fold Content
Your above the fold content needs to give readers a reason to scroll down. You should always start with a strong headline which is relevant to the page content so that users know what to expect. It is also a good idea to include your contact information above the fold. Having your contact information immediately visible makes your business look reputable and trustworthy. It also makes it easier for people who already know they want to use your services to get in touch. It is often a good idea to include a call-to-action above the fold to make it simple for your visitors to make a purchase or enquiry. You should avoid filling your page with multiple calls-to-action as this can overwhelm users and feel overly pushy. Instead, place a single call-to-action above the fold to keep your website user-friendly.
The most difficult thing about optimising your above the fold content is that the fold appears in different places on different devices. The location of the fold is affected by screen size, resolution, and browser plugins. You should consider which types of devices your visitors are mostly using and optimise your content accordingly. You can see whether your visitors are using desktop, tablet, or mobile devices using Google Analytics or similar software. On desktop, the above the fold area is estimated to be about 1000 pixels wide and 600 pixels tall. This estimate assumes a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, the browser being maximised, and no toolbars at the top of the screen.
In conclusion, creating above the fold content which encourages users to spend more time on your website can have a positive effect on your search engine rankings. Effective above the fold content which satisfies the user’s queries can also drive sales.
If you’d like some help with creating high quality above the fold content, then just send us an email to chat@pretzelled.co.uk or call us on 01923 939291.
