Don't Be Greedy With Ads: Google Does Not Like It
After the latest Google updates recently, in particular the helpful content update from September, (With a new one now ongoing for November), many sites have got hit and lost lots of traffic. While more than one reason is normally the result for being hit, one common occurrence for some sites being hit is having too many ads affecting the user experience. That doesn't mean you can't have ads, but keep these things in mind:
- Don't put ads above the fold
- Don't let any ads interfere with content
- Limit pop up ads
- Don't use auto playing ads
Basically, ask yourself, is this annoying for the user? Google have always placed user experience as an important metric, however since the latest updates it seems to be even more important. You always need to ask yourself the question of how is the user experience when creating content. And ads play an important role in this, among other things.
Reasons Not To Use Too Many Ads On Your Blog
User experience:
Too many ads can clutter your website and make it difficult for users to navigate and find the information they are looking for. This can lead to a poor user experience and increase the likelihood of users leaving your site.
Slow loading times:
Ads can significantly slow down the loading time of your website, especially if they are large or contain complex animations. Slow loading times can frustrate users and cause them to abandon your site.
Distraction from content:
When there are too many ads on a webpage, they can distract users from the main content they came to see. This can make it harder for them to focus on the information or products you are trying to promote.
Decreased credibility:
Having an excessive number of ads on your website can make it appear spammy and untrustworthy. Users may question the legitimacy of your content or products if they feel overwhelmed by ads.
Ad blindness:
Over time, users may develop ad blindness, where they automatically ignore or overlook ads on a webpage. This reduces the effectiveness of your advertising efforts and decreases the chances of users engaging with your ads.
Negative impact on SEO:
Search engines like Google consider user experience when ranking websites. If your website is filled with too many ads, it may be penalized in search engine rankings, leading to decreased organic traffic.
Mobile optimization issues:
Mobile devices have smaller screens, and too many ads can take up valuable screen real estate, making it difficult for users to view and interact with your content. This can result in a poor mobile user experience.
Increased bounce rate:
If users find your website overwhelming or difficult to navigate due to excessive ads, they are more likely to leave without exploring further. This increases your bounce rate, which negatively impacts your website's performance.
Negative impact on brand image:
Having too many ads can give the impression that your website is solely focused on making money rather than providing valuable content or products. This can harm your brand image and make it harder to build trust with your audience.
Remember to always have the user in mind, it may be tempting to show more than a few ads to make more money, but this will hurt you in the long term.