Google's Page Layout Update

[enlytend]

Are your sites "top heavy" with ads? If so, don't be surprised if you get hit by Google's newest algorithm update, which targets sites with more ads than content above the fold:

Google's announcement: http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2012/01/page-layout-algorithm-improvement.html

Since Google didn't tag this update with a nickname, like "Panda", members of the search community are suggesting their own. Among the funnier ones I've seen: "Parton" (as in Dolly) and "Muffin Top" .

 

[Chris.]

Interesting read thank you for the link enlytend.

 

[mhdoc]

At the same time I get an email from them pointing out that two of my sites aren't taking advantage of as many ad placements as they could.

 

[carob]

Google's announcement: http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2012/01/page-layout-algorithm-improvement.html

We understand that placing ads above-the-fold is quite common for many websites; these ads often perform well and help publishers monetize online content. This algorithmic change does not affect sites who place ads above-the-fold to a normal degree, but affects sites that go much further to load the top of the page with ads to an excessive degree or that make it hard to find the actual original content on the page. This new algorithmic improvement tends to impact sites where there is only a small amount of visible content above-the-fold or relevant content is persistently pushed down by large blocks of ads.

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

As a user I really like this, I hate those ad overstuffed pages. I wonder if places like About.com will be affected.

This is targeting certain sites so that they get those unsightly silicon implants off their chest. Or should I say silicon valley implants?

 

[enlytend]

At the same time I get an email from them pointing out that two of my sites aren't taking advantage of as many ad placements as they could.

Yeah, I got one of those too - apparently it was mass-mailing day over at Adsense. Several people on Twitter pointed out the irony.

They're always pestering me to put more ads on my pages and I won't do it because it would look like ****. (Not to mention, the higher-paying clicks are in the first adgroup )

 

[sohan Singh]

That's a good step by Google. Monetizing is not so bad. But not providing expected content is not good as well. I never use any add in my site.

 

[zidane]

Muffin top is a good name. Agreed how ironic it is to pin point this thing to sites when the top paying ads are usually those big banners.

Well at least we can still add those ads in other parts of our site. Its not like its totally banned.

Zidane