After Google announced this new algorithm update regarding intrusive pop-up ads, businesses and website owners were quick to call their webmasters. The unfortunate part is that pop-up ads do a pretty good job. They work well, assuming that ads are not blatant scams or totally irrelevant to the content you’re viewing. The conversion rate of high performing pop-up ads is just over 9 percent, on average.
For starters, the algorithm update only affects mobile sites. Desktop versions should not be affected, but who knows if down the road, that will change, too. Google’s mobile pop-up (or interstitial) penalty specifically targets intrusive pop-ups. So not all pop-ups are taboo. If they are spammy in nature, hard to dismiss, and diminish user experience, your rankings will take a hit. Otherwise, you should be safe. Pop-up banners, slide-ins, and tabs that are easy to dismiss and take up 15 percent or less of the screen, are okay.
– When you’re legally required to display restricted content
– When you need to verify age
– When it’s triggered by an exit intent
– Cookie use notifications
– Interrupt users as they navigate between pages
– Cover the majority of the screen, obstructing your entire view
– Are difficult to close
– Must be dismissed before users can continue on
If you think your site has been affected, you can check the Interstitial Penalty Checker at: https://interstitialpenaltycheck.com/
