Sphinn - Google Adds Page Load Time To Quality Score Algorithm

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Google Adds Page Load Time To Quality Score Algorithm

Went Hot: March 8, 2008 - 4:48 am
Posted By: discuit 220 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://searchengineland.com)
Category: Google AdWords

A WebmasterWorld thread tipped both Search Engine Watch and Search Engine Roundtable (that's me) off on the fact that Google has added an additional quality score factor to the AdWords ranking algorithm.

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from kphilbin 220 days ago #

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I am definitely anxious to know how they will penalize. I have seen some load times hang due to Google tools on a site such as Google Maps. Will they take this into account? Quality Score has been helpful identifying good landing page content and click through rates. This certainly will help show several issues with site design and formatting for quality landing pages.

from psurplus 220 days ago #

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I wonder if tracking url redirects will be included in the total time, or if it will be soley page load time once arrived at the final destination. I don't see anything remotely close to this new element in our keyword quality scores.

from AlanCh 219 days ago #

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Hi there - sounds like a good incentive for a nice clean, basic landing page - and another reason to stop folk having flash/splash front and landing pages.

Also ... forgive me if I'm visiting from the planet 'idiot' - but is download time something that is/might be added to the organic listings criteria?

from searchkari 219 days ago #

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Thanks for the heads up Barry! Will you be posting a follow up once your questions are asked? I'd certainly like to find out how long is too long when it comes to QS - of course, I wouldn't be surprised if Google gave you a pretty vague answer to that.

from jaybong 219 days ago #

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@AlanCH "Also ... forgive me if I'm visiting from the planet 'idiot' - but is download time something that is/might be added to the organic listings criteria?"

I don't see why this wouldn't be considered. It comes down to maintaining a good visitor experience (for Google's visitors) so if people clicked results that take a long time to load they might get a bit turned off.

from Doubleohd 218 days ago #

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My page load time is most affected by Google Analytics. I wonder if they'll penalize me for using their tools. If so I guess GA isn't necessariliy free anymore, is it?

from Kalena 217 days ago #

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Interesting. Those advertisers running Flash or short videos on their landing pages will need to optimize them post haste

from DanThies 216 days ago #

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This affects landing page quality scores, which aren't a factor in search ads. If minimum bids aren't an issue for you (your bids are higher anyway), and you aren't running contextual campaigns, this won't matter.

from nemat 215 days ago #

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I just want to agree with Doubleohd, GA takes all the time on my page load

from mwiegand77 208 days ago #

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Really, I'd like to think this is just a way for Google to weed out the crap. I don't think you're gonna get penalized for a typical text and image landing page that's fairly optimized with the GA code on it.

I really only think the people with 30 second - 1 minute load times are gonna be the ones that get dinged.