Got a Popup? Your ranking may suffer...

[fisicx]

Have a read of this: http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/23/12610890/google-search-punish-pop-ups-interstitial-ads

It's not clear what Google regards as an advert but I bet those 'sign up for my ebook' type pop ups will be included.

 

[SEO Lady]

The crack down starts in January 2017, I wrote about this last week in my blog

On the Google Wemasters Blog the company stated:

“Pages that show intrusive interstitials [elements that cover the content] provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible,”

Here are some examples of techniques that make content less accessible to a user:

• Showing a popup that covers the main content, either immediately after the user navigates to a page from the search results, or while they are looking through the page.

• Displaying a standalone interstitial that the user has to dismiss before accessing the main content.
• Using a layout where the above-the-fold portion of the page appears similar to a standalone interstitial, but the original content has been inlined underneath the fold.

I took excerpts from BBC, SEOMoz and the Google Webmaster Blog, you can read it on my SEO blog

 

[justinaldridge]

Yep, it's good to see that they are cracking down on this! I think they should also roll this out to desktop. I'm tired of sites like Facebook, which I'm not a member of, blocking me from seeing all the content because I'm not logged in.

 

[SEO Lady]

Instagram too. Doubly annoying when you created a profile in 2014 and can't remember your password and you can't be bothered to reset it.

 

[The Byre]

IMO all those pop-ups should incur total delisting!

 

[woodss]

Good! Those things are obnoxious as hell. Now if only they could delist WebMD from the listings - I had an infection in my fingernail once and according to the internet I was about to die of colon cancer. Useless.

 

[fisicx]

Was looking up how to use a php function and the site launched a wobbling popup inviting me to join their mailing list. There was no X to close, the only options were to fill in the form or click 'not yet'. Which means it will keep coming back.

I don't use this site anymore

 

[Elliottc26]

A lot of "older" advertising theories are just becoming a nuisance and am glad this pop-up issue is being resolved. The idea of interrupting is just, well, annoying - some may be interested in the offer, but, if all I want is information or to read something interesting then your offer doesn't interest me - have sign-up elsewhere.

Pop-ups are the online equivalent to street vendors harassing you to join Sky, RAC, or get a credit card as you walk past. Don't enjoy this either - unless I was considering getting Sky then I'd talk to you.

Therefore, targeting interested parties is important.

 

[Rockpapercopy_biz]

I won't be disappointed seeing pop ups go...