{"id":84981,"date":"2021-08-31T11:52:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T18:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/?p=84981"},"modified":"2023-08-14T03:31:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T10:31:21","slug":"page-experience-intrusive-interstitials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/blog\/page-experience-intrusive-interstitials\/","title":{"rendered":"Page Experience Matters: Intrusive Interstitials & Why They\u2019re Bad for SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"
You\u2019re searching for a product on your phone. You find a listing in the search results, select it and \u2014 fail!<\/em> A pop-up has dominated the entire screen on your mobile device. And you can\u2019t press the little \u201cx\u201d because it\u2019s too close to the screen\u2019s edge. All that\u2019s left to do is leave the site.<\/p>\n Has something like this ever happened to you? Aside from the fact that it\u2019s annoying as a user, think about what it\u2019s doing to your business as a site owner. That\u2019s one reason why avoiding intrusive pop-ups is an SEO best practice. Another is that they could cost you a ranking boost in Google.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s explore intrusive interstitials as No. 3 in our series on Google\u2019s page experience ranking update<\/a> that rolled out between mid-June and early September 2021.<\/p>\n An intrusive interstitial is essentially a webpage pop-up that makes it hard for a mobile user to access the content they want.<\/p>\n When Google first talked about this issue in 2016<\/a>, it gave some examples of intrusive interstitials:<\/p>\n Pop-ups that are OK include:<\/p>\n When<\/em><\/strong> the interstitial pops up matters. Google’s intrusive interstitials ban “is essentially focused on that moment when a user comes to your website” because that’s a bad user experience. A pop-up may be “perfectly fine” if it isn’t the “first thing” a user sees and if the user experience is preserved. We’ve known this all along, but it’s nice to have John Mueller state it for the record in a Google SEO Office Hours hangout<\/a> on August 20, 2021.<\/p>\n Intrusive website pop-ups create a bad user experience for mobile users. Since this can harm your website rankings, they\u2019re also bad for SEO.<\/p>\n In 2017, Google rolled out an intrusive interstitial penalty<\/a>. Google explained that:<\/p>\n Starting today, pages where content is not easily accessible to a user on the transition from the mobile search results may not rank as high.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This applies only to pages that mobile users visit directly from a Google search result (not subsequent webpages visited on the same site from the original page). Regardless, it\u2019s a good best practice to avoid annoying your visitors.<\/p>\n Google reminded readers that this is just one signal and, as always, great content will prevail:<\/p>\n As we said, this new signal is just one of hundreds of signals that are used in ranking and the intent of the search query is still a very strong signal, so a page may still rank highly if it has great, relevant content.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n With interstitials being a factor in Google\u2019s new page experience algorithm update, it\u2019s a reminder that intrusive pop-ups have no place in a mobile-first world.<\/p>\n You want to avoid intrusive-pop ups by aligning your website with the mobile user experience.<\/p>\n Google offers in-depth guidance on creating a mobile-friendly site here<\/a>, including how to avoid common mistakes with pop-ups<\/a>.<\/p>\n Luckily, you can still achieve your website goals without hindering people\u2019s page experience. Keep these mobile-friendly navigation practices<\/a> for pop-ups in mind:<\/p>\n It comes down to courtesy. When designing website elements like interstitials, make sure your site delivers the kind of page experience that satisfies visitors and Google.<\/p>\n For more details on the update, keep reading our page experience series:<\/em><\/p>\n If you found this article helpful, please share it! Subscribe here<\/a> to receive updates from the Bruce Clay Blog delivered to your inbox.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Optimizing user experience has become paramount. As websites aim to engage visitors and convey their messages effectively, avoiding intrusive interstitials while maintaining a positive user experience is both pertinent and challenging. Intrusive interstitials, those pesky pop-ups that hinder access to content, can disrupt user interaction flow and potentially drive visitors away. However, striking the balance between your website’s goals and users’ needs is achievable with the right approach.<\/p>\n Regarding intrusive interstitials, the key lies in embracing user-centric design. These pop-ups are roadblocks; they deter users from reaching their desired destinations. To avoid frustrating your audience, consider using subtle banners that convey important messages without obstructing the content. Strategically position these banners to ensure minimal disruption and easy dismissal. By respecting your users’ journey, you show that your website values their experience.<\/p>\n Experience teaches us that timing is crucial in web interactions. Similarly, consider when your pop-ups appear. Intrusive interstitials that greet users immediately can lead to dissatisfaction. Instead, slightly delay their appearance, allowing users to immerse themselves in the content before encountering interruptions. This strategic delay minimizes frustration and contributes to a smoother user journey.<\/p>\n Moreover, segmenting your audience allows you to tailor messages effectively. New visitors might benefit from different pop-ups compared to returning users. Personalization enhances user experience and showcases your website’s attentiveness to individual needs. This level of detail underscores your commitment to delivering value without compromising usability.<\/p>\n A well-executed exit intent strategy can also be effective. Instead of bombarding users upon entry, consider triggering pop-ups as users navigate toward exiting your site. This approach respects their initial engagement while allowing them to share additional content or offers. This way, your pop-ups become valuable extensions of their journey.<\/p>\n Thoughtful design and strategic implementation are key to avoiding intrusive interstitials while maintaining a positive user experience. By considering the user journey, optimizing timing, segmenting audiences, and leveraging exit intent, you can strike a harmonious balance between your website’s objectives and your users’ satisfaction.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure:<\/strong><\/p>\n Find out how to avoid intrusive interstitials, pop-ups on your website that drive mobile visitors away, which is part of Google\u2019s page experience ranking update.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":84989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1674,1675,1232,1666,1676,1114],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/a>What Are Intrusive Interstitials?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Why Do Intrusive Interstitials Matter?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>How to Avoid Intrusive Interstitials<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>FAQ: How can I avoid using intrusive interstitials while maintaining a positive user experience on my website?<\/h3>\n
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