Google Updates Algorithm to Punish Websites with Excessive, Top of Page Ads

[Cleo]

Saw this today

Google has decided to take punitive actions against those websites that flood the top of their web pages with ads due to which the visitors have to scroll down to finally view the relevant contents on the page.
According to Google, this type of layouts annoys the users and thus the web search company will be penalizing those websites through search results. The company disclosed this on their company blog.
Google's distinguished engineer, Matt Cutts, stated on Google Webmaster Central blog, "If you click on a website and the part of the website you see first either doesn't have a lot of visible content above-the-fold or dedicates a large fraction of the site's initial screen real estate to ads."

This, according to the engineer, who is seen as the main authority on search engine optimization (SEO) of the search giant, is not good for user experience and thus such websites might not get high ranking on Google web search.
However, the company will not be punishing those websites that has ad contents up to what Google considers "normal degree" but those websites will be affected that has "excessive" ads content due to which it's hard to find the original content. In fact, the company has also developed a new algorithm improvement to implement this.
http://www.itproportal.com/2012/01/23/google-updates-algorithm-punish-websites-excessive-top-page-ads/#ixzz1kH7MIOYs

[Useless]

I'll be damned. An algorithm update that makes obvious sense. This really is line with what Google tells us - make your pages friendly to the surfer, offer them quality content, and don't dare make any money. :D

[dunc]

Where as Google itself places adwords above the fold on its serps.... double standards... or are these perceived as useful... if so perceived by who?

I think the old big G is going for global domination - its probably targeting sites which aren't using its ad networks |huh

[Useless]

I think the old big G is going for global domination - its probably targeting sites which aren't using its ad networks |huhExactly.

Jim Boykin is an expert on Panda. Here's one of his short blog posts entitled "Google says “Add 3 ad units to Prominent Sections of your Pages”…so we can penalize you with Panda!": http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/blog/google/pandaupdate/panda-adsense/

[dunc]

Thanks Incredibly Useful Warrior - that blog looks like a good read

[Useless]

Thanks Incredibly Useful Warrior - that blog looks like a good readThe Ninjas are a local firm. I gave them my resume' weeks and weeks ago, and they said they'd interview me sometime this quarter. They are supposed to be an amazing group to work for.