{"id":1514563,"date":"2022-11-17T08:29:32","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T13:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.practicalecommerce.com\/?p=1514563"},"modified":"2022-11-18T05:36:33","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T10:36:33","slug":"seo-and-interstitials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicalecommerce.com\/seo-and-interstitials","title":{"rendered":"SEO and Interstitials"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google defines “intrusive interstitials” as elements that overlay an entire web page, obstructing users’ view of the content.<\/p>\n

In 2016<\/a> Google issued a warning about interstitials, stating they can frustrate users and provide a poor user experience.<\/p>\n

Since 2017<\/a>, intrusive interstitials have been a Google organic ranking signal. That “intrusive interstitials update” was only for mobile users, leaving publishers confident that desktop interstitials were acceptable.<\/p>\n

In 2021<\/a> Google rolled out an update focused on the desktop user experience. Google confirmed then that intrusive interstitials affected desktop rankings, too. Soon after, Google posted warnings<\/a> in Search Console directing users to remove or correct an intrusive interstitial \u2014 or see their rankings decline.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/a>

In 2021 Google began posting interstitial warnings in Seach Console, stating, “Improve your page experience by removing intrusive interstitials,” and adding, “Intrusive interstitials … cover a significant area of the main content of a page.”<\/p><\/div>\n

The immediate ranking impact of the 2017 and 2021 updates was mild. Nonetheless, web admins who value organic search traffic should play it safe and align interstitials to Google’s requirements.<\/p>\n

However, interstitials remain the most effective way to build an email list and attract leads. Google itself shared<\/a> that mobile interstitials drove 23% more revenue to a games developer. And, depending on the study<\/a>, upwards of 40% of email signups are on interstitials.<\/p>\n

Here’s how to use interstitials without getting into trouble with Google.<\/p>\n

Dialogs Are Better<\/h3>\n

Per Google, interstitials cover the entire page, preventing interaction until closed, and “dialogs” cover only part of the page.<\/p>\n

Google approves of dialogs provided they don’t block users from accessing the page. Thus the fundamental rule for using interstitials and dialogs is not to ruin a user’s first experience with the page.<\/p>\n

And that makes sense. Google’s mission is to provide quick answers<\/a> to searchers. So build your popups and overlays to allow users to interact with the page. Based on Google’s example, that means using a mobile dialog of not more than 25% of a visible page. Google provides no example for desktop popups.<\/p>\n

Regardless, for both dialogs \u2014 smartphones and desktops \u2014 the smaller, the better. Even the smallest dialogs can be intrusive if they interrupt users’ access.<\/p>\n

\"Image

Google provides this example of an acceptable smartphone popup (in the green box).<\/p><\/div>\n

Functional Popups<\/h3>\n

Google recognizes the need for functional (non-promotional) popups and will not penalize pages with:<\/p>\n