Below the fold is derived from the print newspaper terminology where the most important stories were placed "above the fold" to grab the attention of potential buyers. Similarly, in the digital space, below the fold refers to the portion of a webpage that is not immediately visible when the page loads, and the user must scroll down to see it.
Below the fold is important because it determines how users engage with a website. It can affect a user’s first impression of your site and whether they decide to stay or leave. Additionally, it has an impact on ad placement and revenue, as ads above the fold tend to have higher visibility and click-through rates.
This region is not measured strictly in pixels, as screen sizes and resolutions vary between devices and users. Instead, it is typically considered as the percentage of the total page height from the top.
With the prevalence of mobile devices, considering below the fold content becomes tricky. Mobile screen sizes are significantly smaller, and users are more accustomed to scrolling on their devices. Hence, an effective design might be to encourage scrolling with engaging content rather than cramming everything above the fold.
Analyzing website usage can give insights into how users interact with your website. Through tracking tools like Google Analytics, one can understand how far users scroll, what they click on, and how long they spend on your page. This data can then be used to tailor your website design and placement of key elements effectively.
This comprehensive checklist covers all critical pages, from homepage to checkout, giving you actionable steps to boost sales and revenue.