Beware! Google New Page Layout Algorithm

Too many adverts will lead to loss of search engine rankings

Beware! having too many adverts displayed above the fold could mean a stiff penalty as Google tweaks its algorithm. Is this move contradictory to its own recommendations? Will this move see loss of profits for Google as advertisers adjust how their ads and how they are displayed on a page.

We have yet another change in how Google selects which sites rise to the top in SERPS (search engine result pages) . Publishers who rely on search engine traffic to make money will have to stand up and take notice. Google calls the recent change a page layout algorithm improvement

The company wants to make sure that when searchers click on Google search results, they won’t be taken to a page where the content is hard to find. It appears this move is all about Googles determination to provide  search engine users with the best sites.

I have always advised my clients that when creating a site or adding content you need to think like  a search engine. Search engines think ” is this the best place to send my user? Search engines need to know its a quality page with lots of information this includes external links to more resources , video , images etc. The page payout algorithm will put into line those sites that use top heavy advertising before content read What makes great content

Google ad layout for adsense

Google May Lose Money!

I am wondering if this change will reduce the revenue of Google as publishers change how they display advertising? Google can afford to experiment but the cost to the company could end up being millions. Share holders must be nervous about the move , will the average website lose revenue from this? I am not sure it all remains to be seen.

At small screen resolutions, Google’s own search results page is one of the worst offenders when it comes to advertising clutter obscuring content. That seeming hypocrisy may leave some webmasters wondering what constitutes “a normal degree of ads” and how screen size affects what is defined as “normal.” Sticking simply with what Google has written about the change, copying Google’s search results page is probably not a good idea in this case.

The Change Means Ad Sensibly

Matt Cutts Google

Googles man Mr Matt Cutts said the algorithm tweak looks at the layout of a Web page and the amount of content a user sees on the page once they’ve clicked on a search result.

“If you click on a Website and the part of the Website you see first either doesn’t have a lot of visible content above-the-fold or dedicates a large fraction of the site’s initial screen real estate to ads, that’s not a very good user experience,”

“Such sites may not rank as highly going forward.”

Cutts was careful to note that Google recognizes ads placed above the fold perform well for Websites. Accordingly, Google isn’t punishing Websites that place ads at the top of Web pages “to a normal degree.”

Matt Cutts on Page Layout Algorithm Changes

Rather, he and his team are penalizing Websites that put what they deem an “excessive” amount of ads up top, or simply make it hard to find content on the page.

Is This A Big Change?

This algorithmic change noticeably affects less than 1% of searches globally. That means that in less than one in 100 searches, a typical user might notice a reordering of results on the search page.The algorithm analyzes adverts in fixed positions; the Pagerank for sites using pop-ups, pop-unders or overlays will not be affected. If you believe that your website has been affected by the page layout algorithm change, consider how your web pages use the area above-the-fold and whether the content on the page is obscured or otherwise hard for users to discern quickly.

Google Page Layout Video

I found this video which also  explains the changes hope it helps

Useful Tools

Try this Google Browser Size tool 

Author Nick Marr