Google has just updated the Page layout algorithm 2 or Top heavy 2 affecting 0.7% of English queries noticeably.
The page layout algorithm, which was introduced in January 2012 to penalize websites with high number of ads above the fold. The decision was taken by Google after receiving complaints from users about more ads on the top or initial visible part of landing pages. There by hampering the user experience.
The news was broke by Matt Cutts via a tweet on October 9, 2012.
Minor weather report: Update of goo.gl/OpIDL launching today. ~0.7% of English queries noticeably affected.
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) October 9, 2012
One thing is clear, whether it is Google AdSense or any other ads, above the fold placement performs the best. And, placing one or two ads with some content above the fold will not be penalized by Google straight away for top heavy algo.
If your pages clearly hamper the user experience with plenty of ads with very little or no contents, then page layout algorithm comes in to play.
Those who had affected in Jan 2012 for this algo might have recovered this time, provided they had taken the necessary corrective measures, by reducing the number of ads on above the fold area. And, sites which will be penalized this time have to take corrective measures and to wait till the next page layout algorithm update, to recover.
Tips to escape from Page layout algo
Don’t allocate more than 25% of your above the fold area to ads. Put good quality content above the fold for better user experience.
You can test your blog or website on Google’s Browser Size tool to check how it looks under different screen resolutions.
Google usually takes few weeks to crawl and detects your website’s layout, and it depends on the number of pages and how efficiently your site is crawled by Google bots.
About Nandita B.
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So this algo means, We need to put good quality content on top of the page ? And if we affected by this algo then if we just put the content on top, can we recover ?
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My only concern is, will this algo affect sites that shows google’s own adsense ads on top side?
This search engine algorithm is for all types of Ads including AdSense.
So this means that sites with such ads above the fold will be affected (actually should have)? I guess yes!
It’s not mandatory to put only content on above the fold area. According to Google page layout algorithm, your content:Ad ratio shouldn’t decrease user experience by pushing important content below the fold.
There should be a balance between Content and Ads to escape from this algo.
Okay, Got it, Thanks!
oh.. A Great step from Google to make web pasges and Blog look Much Simple
It will affect The Low Quality pages which have so Many Ads and Less COntent..!
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Hey Nandita, can you please check my blog : blogvkp.com, and can you please tell me, what do you think of the sidebar. I have added one image over their ( feedburner ) and the rest of the ads is below the fold ( but that depends on the screen size. mine is 1600 x 1200 … please tell me how you see the site and what was the screen resolution.
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Hi Vivek,
Your blog BlogVKP.com is great while considering Google Top Heavy algo. The feedburner image which you have mentioned occupy less than 5% of above the fold area.
Screen resolution varies from device to device for desktop, laptop, tab and mobile. You don’t have to worry.
I think, your blog is one of the best (Clean) I have ever seen in terms of Content:Ad ratio.
I accept what Nandita said, you have some good placements to place your ads. Go ahead with it.
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Thanks Blogging tips and Nandita..
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hi,Nandita
Its good to heard that we can put above fold placements ads on my site i am really worried about this things.Now the days are very difficult to manage google adsense account. Thanks for Sharing
Sandeep Kumar dan
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A good step to make a perfect yet simple layout to your web page. It is good to know that it is top heavy. I try this.
Hello nandita, can u please Look on my blog couponme.in
The Blog i have made is one Month older..
and i have given the post writing work to a person (outsourced) But he has written so many copied posts from Different Sites, and i have also removed many Duplicate posts, But the Problem is i don’t know why my Blog is Not listed in Google? when it was new i also got many organic searches, but now it has dropped , It is Any Penalty? and please Say me how to Recover From it. Should i remove all The posts? or anytthing Else? i have really worked hard on this Blog, But not getting organic traffic?
Please Help me..
Awaiting for your Reply
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Thanks for the tips Nandita! Ads are one of the reasons why webmasters strive to have good content and good traffic to their site. Without them, it could be the start of a website’s downfall. Since it would be hard to get a huge ad, do you think this would mean a more pricey tag for ads?
Good Update of Google ,This will Help To Make a Good Quality Of Websites and also help for Google Users..
Thanks..
If and Advertisement or very less useful content written below the fold area will does also taken into account by Google or what?? Please explain I am very much confused and give suggestion about my website, if need to change as per google algo recently.
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If there is lot of white space above the fold, less text above the fold however no ads ATF, would the site still get penalized?
A good step to make a perfect yet simple layout to your web page. It is good to know that it is top heavy. I try this.
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