Google is at it again. Ad penalization

1. 61

   paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

   Pages With Too Many Ads “Above The Fold” Now Penalized By Google’s “Page Layout” Algorithm
   
   http://searchengineland.com/too-many-ad … lgo-108613

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2. 67

   Peter Hogganposted 12 years ago

   One of the most important facts missing in all this is screen resolution. Above the fold at what screen resolution?

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      2uesdayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is from a blue text link in the article - I cannot relate it to the topic but maybe it makes sense to you.
      
      http://browsersize.googlelabs.com/

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         paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         " How Google Browser Size Works
         
         
         Google Browser Size is a visualization of browser window sizes for people who visit Google. For example, the "90%" contour means that 90% of people visiting Google have their browser window open to at least this size or larger.
         
         This is useful for ensuring that important parts of a page's user interface are visible by a wide audience. On the example page that you see when you first visit this site, there is a "donate now" button which falls within the 80% contour, meaning that 20% of users cannot see this button when they first visit the page. 20% is a significant number; knowing this fact would encourage the designer to move the button much higher in the page so it can be seen without scrolling.
         
         To view your own Web site with this same visualization overlaid on it, simply type its URL into the "Enter URL here" textbox at the top of the window and click Go.
         
         Notes:
         
             You can change the opacity of the overlay by clicking the gray boxes next to the word "Opacity" at the top of the window.
             As you move the mouse around the window, you will see a transparent rectangle following the mouse pointer. This feature allows you to interact normally with the page you're examining even though it has a graphical overlay atop it.
             The sizes represented in this contour are client area sizes, not browser window sizes. This means they represent the size of the browser without the title bar, toolbars, status bars, etc., and thus give a true representation of how much content can be seen by a particular segment of the Web-using population.
             Browser Size works best on web pages with a fixed layout aligned to the left. If the content reflows as the width is adjusted or it is centered, then the results can be misleading. In this case, you can obtain more accurate results by reducing the browser width to a percentage column, e.g. 90% and seeing what content falls below the 90% horizontal line.
             We're actively looking to develop and improve the tool. So if you have comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at browser-size-external-feedback@google.com.
         
         
         Enjoy!
         The Google Browser Size team"

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            paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I plugged my profile URL into it. I was somewhat disconcerted, but that's just me.

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               paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               And I did a hub. More consternation. I think this calls for a nap.

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            napetvposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            ? What window? Where? How to I get to the browser window page?
            
            It's like trying to learn Latin in a Chinese fire drill.That's what this feels like to me.
            
            Thanks for trying to help. I think I will buy AdSense For Professional Dummies.

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   2. 87

      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You don't expect Google to be that helpful, do you?
      
      I'm not sure it really matters, though - the way I read it, the important thing is the ratio of text to ads in the section you're looking at?

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3. 67

   Peter Hogganposted 12 years ago

   Again the information you get from the screen resolution tool is dependant on the resolution of the monitor you use to view it.
   
   If you scroll down the page the overlay does not move so you will never be able to see information about screen resolutions that are greater than your own.

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4. 61

   paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

   I am soooooooo glad that I put a pic in the top-right of 90+% of my hubs, thus knocking that one ad down to below the fold.

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      rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I have read somewhere (reputable) in the last few months that it's good to have an image or relevant video above the fold.  I never fell into the advice given about leaving that top right space open for ads. I hated how it looked seeing nothing but ads and imagined many other viewers felt the same way.

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      1. 61

         paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Let's face it. We are both awesome. There is just no way around it.

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            paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            And then once again paradigmsearch gazes at his falling traffic...

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               Anna Marie Bowmanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Don't feel bad...I'm dealing with the same thing.  I wish I could figure out what magic formula for perfection in layout they are looking for.  I thought it was all supposed to be about content???  Can't have an ad here, can't have one there, can't have too many...nothing about this has anything to do with quality content...

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                  paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the things we pay HP to deal with. I'm just going to concentrate on creating more wondrous content.

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      2. 87

         Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         In earlier times, leaving that space for ads worked.  The advice was given to me by a respected Hubber, I followed it, and my Adsense conversions improved enormously.
         
         However, we have to remember that the advice was given before HP Ads started.  I recall when HP Ads was introduced, how some people were worried because they looked bigger and more intrusive.  We're all used to them now, but in hindsight maybe we should all have stopped and thought about the "top right" advice in light of the new ad design.
         
         I think I might have noticed it earlier, but I had no idea HubPages was slapping a big Adsense ad across the top of every Hub.  It was only when someone posted on the forums asking how to make it appear, that I realized it even existed. It'll be interesting to see if it disappears in response to this Google update.

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         1. 85

            rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I'm certain they did, but did searchers click on ads for the right reasons? That seemed to be one of the major complaints that Google took into consideration with Panda, which I always found rather ironic. Google created it's own monster with AdSense and allowing anyone to have an account.
            Even without ads in that location, when signed out, there are quite a number of ads showing above the fold. 
            
            I don't know if it has anything to do with anything, but I never experienced the plunges and surges that many have. I have had increased traffic, but no major plunge. Perhaps layout is one reason? I don't know.

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            1. 87

               Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Yes it is ironic, isn't it. 
               
               And that's what I'm saying - when signed out, there are already a lot of ads above the fold, but I'd never looked at HubPages while signed out, so I had no idea.  You don't even see all the ads in Preview mode - maybe that's something HP needs to change.
               
               I was just trying to make the point that the advice made sense at the time - for the two or three years pre-Panda.  You may be right that it doesn't make sense now, and it may well be one of the reasons you haven't had the problems others have experienced. 
               
               I've just changed my Optimize Hubs Hub to remove it!

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5. 76

   Richieb799posted 12 years ago

   How many is too many? you're only allowed 3 ads and 2 link units..does it include the latter as well?

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6. 60

   Teylinaposted 12 years ago

   Soooo far behind and so non-tech by nature (have to study and take everything apart piece by piece), I let lots of things like this go, but glad I checked out. Will be in class right here all day tomorrow!

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7. 59

   girlgonestrongposted 12 years ago

   Google is so very conflicted.  I'm sure the Adsense guys are always pissed about getting shafted by the main search developers.
   
   It's like, if they every said anything,the search guys would just hold up a sign that said, "User Experience Trumps Income Generation" and then the Adsense team would just have to close their mouths.

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8. 65

   LoriSoardposted 12 years ago

   Interesting ideas and something to keep in mind, but one thing I've learned about SEO over the years is that it is ever changing. If you spend your time running after the latest algorithm, you'll never get anything written.
   
   The key is to write good, high-quality content, follow what you currently know and see what happens. On other sites where I've been paid in ad revenue and on my own sites, I have learned that there will be some articles that do extremely well and some that don't do so well and this can fluctuate widely.
   
   No matter how much keyword research and tricks you use, there will always be under performers. My goal is just to write things I think people want to read and that will help them. The rest will either take care of itself, or I'll eventually pull my articles and put them into a book and sell them that way. There are always options.

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      paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We need to get you 3 more followers.

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         lorenmurciaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Done! I followed her. 2 more to go..

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            paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Back at you.

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9. 84

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 12 years ago

   I agree, Lori - and I'll follow you as soon as I finish this post. I may not make much money, but I'll enjoy what I'm doing and feel good about being honest and ethical.

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      paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Back at you.

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10. 84

    Marcy Goodfleischposted 12 years ago

    I think we hit the magic number! It was on 99, and I am now a follower & her profile says 100. Best feeling I've had all day!

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11. 53

    jcalesposted 12 years ago

    I agree with you Lori.
    Write what you like and what helps people. Don't write for the Big Corporate Monopolies. You want an ad there go ahead & place it. Facebook and Twitter could give a hoot about what G thinks.
    At some point their little jumping through hoops / twister game will be over. The decline is already happening, AD*words is not as profitable which is why you see all the $75 Fr*ee advertising now.

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12. 40

    napetvposted 12 years ago

    Google is trying to sell these $7.50 words, but if nobody is buying, you get something like 222 impressions and one click for a whopping .37!! Oh wait, that was me 3 days ago.
    
    I wrote a Hub, that has a link to my blog post which tells a tale of an unaccounted click I defiantly had. I submit a theory on why it was not counted, simply reporting the facts. In the 24 since, my hubs average score went from 68 to 71, I obtained two more followers, and posted one solid Hub.
    
    Guess what? My Hubscore precipitously dived from 93 to 89? Is their any possibility of backlash from Google for "implying" suspicion or a glitch? I wouldn't think anybody, or any program would take the time to look at my irrelevant ass. I've made $170.00 IN 5 months, so I am obviously not in some underground "click ring."
    
    I am more curious than worried actually. These formulas(alogarithms) are fascinating! It's like you folks are out to crack a code to riches. I wish I was smart, cause I'd kind of enjoy tinkering with my titles and keywords, etc..
    
    If anybody has any advice, I would be willing to pay for it? Is that legal? Like if you looked at my Blogs, my Hubs, my HTML, etc... Then you helped me get on track. I will pay for your time via pay pal. My e-mail is on my profile. You could be my personal trainer for SEO tutoring.
    
    

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