by Amanda DiSilvestro
Admittedly, this isn’t something that I’ve ever quite considered. We worry so much about SEO updates – most notably Panda and Penguin – yet AdSense is also something that is important when it comes to working with Google. Although it might not be as popular as SEO or change quite as often as an organic search algorithm, AdSense is still something that uses Google bots in order to analyze a company.
This idea was recently brought to surface in a WebmasterWorld thread and then made even more popular at SEO Roundtable. To take these ideas a little bit further, we have to ask ourselves: Does it make sense that AdSense has an algorithm that undergoes updating, or is AdSense something that remains largely the same? If there are constant updates, what can businesses do to keep up and stay relevant?
Some of the Algorithms AdSense Likely Uses
Matt Cutts, head of Google’s webspam team, has never come out and discussed an AdSense algorithm, and this is likely because it isn’t overly important (especially next to the organic updates we often see). In either case, we can make an educated guess that AdSense has algorithms for several different categories. Pricing, ad matching and formatting, combatting spam, and display verses text ad placement are all perfect examples of where Google would have an algorithm.
One of the biggest and most recent AdWords updates is called “enhanced campaigns” which will change the way that advertisers bid for mobile. It allows managers to set different bids and show different ads all based on the type of device that the user is using (tablet, mobile phone, etc.). You can learn more here.
What an AdSense Update Means for Businesses
While the word “Google update” typically sends businesses into panic-mode, it shouldn’t be quite as serious when considering this type of update. An AdSense update doesn’t work the same way as an organic search update for several reasons:
- No announcement. In the majority of cases, Google isn’t going to announce this update and you’re not going to see it covered on all the SEO blogs. This is likely because it isn’t easily noticed.Ban Ads. If you find that certain ads are appearing on your website that have nothing to do with your industry or company, you can actually ban the ads. You don’t usually get this type of control with organic listings.
- Ban Ads. If you find that certain ads are appearing on your website that have nothing to do with your industry or company, you can actually ban the ads. You don’t usually get this type of control with organic listings.
- Complexity. Google AdWords is even more complex to work with than anything related to SEO, so it’s much more difficult to see a change and react. Even if you do know about an update, it’s likely that there isn’t a strategy to really do anything about it.
Do you have any thoughts regarding an AdSense update? Do you think this is something that businesses need to take more seriously? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda DiSilvestro is a graduate of Illinois State University. Although she graduated with an English Education degree, she found herself working as a full-time blogger in the SEO/social media department at HigherVisibility SEO, a leading franchise SEO services company.
