What is “The Fold”?
In the realm of web design, ‘the fold’ refers to the portion of a webpage that is visible without scrolling. It comes from the newspaper industry where the most important stories were placed on the top half of the front page.
Why Does it Matter?
The content above the fold is typically the first thing users see when they land on a website. Research suggests that users spend 80% of their time looking at information above the fold.
Examples of the Fold
Think of a news website where the headlines, images, and breaking news are displayed prominently on the top part of the page. These elements are strategically placed above the fold to grab the user’s attention immediately.
Case Studies
One case study found that moving a call-to-action button above the fold increased conversions by 20%. This shows the impact that the fold can have on user behavior and engagement.
Statistics on the Fold
According to a study by Nielsen Norman Group, users spend 74% of their time on the first two screenfuls of a webpage. This highlights the importance of prioritizing content above the fold.
Best Practices
- Keep important content above the fold to grab user attention
- Optimize for different screen sizes to ensure content remains visible
- Use visual elements like images and headlines to draw users in
