Google’s New Requirements for CTV and DOOH Ads: What Publishers Need to Know

Google is rolling out new requirements for publishers monetizing Connected TV, CTV and Digital out-of-home, DOOH inventory with Google served ads.

These changes will take effect from 1 May 2025 and apply to all CTV and DOOH inventory running through Ad Manager, AdMob, and AdSense.

Here’s what’s changing and what you need to do to stay compliant

What Are CTV and DOOH?

Connected TV (CTV): A TV used to stream video over the internet at home this includes smart TVs or TVs connected to devices like Roku or Fire TV.
Digital out-of-home (DOOH): Screens that display video or ads in public places like tablets in rideshare vehicles or screens in shops, lobbies, or other non-home settings.

In-stream vs Non-in-stream Placements in CTV

In-stream placement: An ad that plays before, during, or after streaming video, or a display ad shown alongside video content.
Non-in-stream placement: Ads that aren’t part of the video stream like those that appear on a video selection homepage tile or as a display ad when a video is paused.

Key Requirements for CTV and DOOH Ads

Google CTV and DOOH ad requirements

Detailed declarations and technical compliance

Your ad inventory must follow Google’s VAST ad tag URL parameters and technical specs.

Ad requests and how ads are served must be correctly configured and reported.

No Ad Requests When Screens Aren’t in Use

Don’t serve ads when no one is watching.

For example, ads shouldn’t run if the screen is in screensaver mode, if a rideshare vehicle has no passengers, or if a business is closed.

DOOH Ads Must Show Right Away

Ads must be displayed immediately after the ad request is made. Delays can lead to compliance issues

Other Key Notes Publishers Should Know

DOOH and non-in-stream ads may have fewer ad sources.

You might get fewer ad sources if you use non-in-stream ad placements (like ads on a paused screen or a homepage tile) or monetize DOOH inventory.

Restricted Content

Inventory that includes content restricted under Google’s Video Inventory Restrictions could see limited monetization options.

SDK and Library Limits

You can’t use the Google Interactive Media Ads SDK or Programmatic Access Library for Interstitial or Standalone placements in CTV or DOOH unless you’re part of the official Google Beta program.

Policy and Guidelines Update

Google is making changes to the GAM Partner Guidelines by adding a new section (2.11) that covers the latest CTV and DOOH inventory requirements.

Publishers should continue to follow the current rules for VAST ad tag URL parameters, as these still apply moving forward.

Check out the Ad Manager policy change log for reference.

What Publishers Should Focus On Now

Inventory Setup – Make sure that your CTV and DOOH inventory specifies ad types and placements
Technical – Make sure your setup follows the latest VAST ad tag requirements and is properly set up.
When to Serve Ads – Only serve ads when a user is expected to see them no ads on idle screens.
Tools Check – Verify you’re not using SDKs or libraries that aren’t supported for CTV or DOOH unless you’re part of an official Google Beta.

These changes are meant to improve how ads work on CTV and DOOH, but they also mean publishers need to stay sharp.

Go over your setup before May 1, 2025, to avoid ad delivery or monetization issues.

How MagicBid Helps You Earn More

If you’re not making the most of your ad space, you’re leaving money on the table.

MagicBid helps web, app, and CTV publishers maximize revenue with smarter ad placement and optimization tools.

Web Monetization: Get better ad visibility, higher engagement, and more revenue from every impression.
In-App Monetization: Connect with premium advertisers to effortlessly boost fill rates and eCPMs.
CTV Monetization: Deliver high-quality, tailored ad experiences that keep viewers engaged and advertisers paying more.

With MagicBid’s advanced ad tech and expert support, you can turn your traffic into higher earnings without the guesswork.

Connect with us now to get a free ad revenue evaluation.

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Updates

March 13, 2025March 18, 2025Kashish

Google Lifts Gambling Ad Restrictions: What Publishers Need to Know

After years and years, Google is finally lifting the publisher restriction on gambling partners.

By the end of March 2025, publishers in 18 countries will be allowed to run Ad Manager, AdMob, and AdSense to monetize sports books and gambling platforms

Publishers from approved countries where gambling content is allowed will have access to more revenue opportunities

What’s Changing?

Google’s gambling policies used to be focused on where the content was created.

Now, the main focus more on where the user is located. If a user is located in an approved country, they can see gambling-related ads and content.

Publishers still need to make sure that ads and content don’t reach users outside of approved countries

Which Countries Are Approved?

Gambling ad monetization will now be allowed in:

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

What Publishers Need to Do

Opportunities:

Publishers from 18 countries will now be able to tap into high-paying gambling advertisers through Google ad platforms

Geo-Targeting:

Gambling-related ads must be restricted from users outside approved regions to avoid violations.

Stay Compliant:

In order to avoid legal problems, publishers must ensure that they follow relevant regional regulations. Local gambling laws still apply.

Publishers now have access to a new market that they can use to boost ad revenue while staying compliant with Google’s policy.

Make sure your monetization strategy keeps up with the most recent changes.

How MagicBid Helps You Earn More

If you’re not making the most of your ad space, you’re leaving money on the table.

MagicBid helps web, app, and CTV publishers maximize revenue with smarter ad placement and optimization tools.

Web Monetization: Get better ad visibility, higher engagement, and more revenue from every impression.
In-App Monetization: Connect with premium advertisers to effortlessly boost fill rates and eCPMs.
CTV Monetization: Deliver high-quality, tailored ad experiences that keep viewers engaged and advertisers paying more.

With MagicBid’s advanced ad tech and expert support, you can turn your traffic into higher earnings without the guesswork.

Connect with us now to get a free ad revenue evaluation.

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Updates

February 18, 2025February 18, 2025Kashish

Google’s New High-Engagement Ads Update: What Publishers Need to Know

Google High-Engagement Ads Update 2025: What Publishers Need to Know

Mobile app monetization continues to change, and delivering engaging ad experiences is crucial for both user satisfaction and revenue growth.

The high-engagement ads setting was introduced by Google Ad Manager for mobile app out-stream inventory, giving publishers more control over different ad formats to engage more users and increase overall ad performance.

Understanding High Engagement Ads

High-engagement ads are designed to be highly interactive and engaging to elevate user engagement metrics.

When this setting is turned on, it enables Google Ads and other Ad Exchange buyers to serve:

Interstitial Ads: Skippable no later than 12 seconds.
Rewarded Ads: Skippable no later than 60 seconds. The reward will be granted once the skip time is reached.
Ad Exit Steps: Interstitial and rewarded ads with up to three steps to exit.

By default, high-engagement ads are activated for all interstitial and rewarded inventory, excluding native or banner ad units

From March 10, 2025, the high-engagement ad setting will appear in Ad Manager so that publishers can audit settings before the official rollout on March 24, 2025.

Comparing Ad Experiences

The impact of the high-engagement ads setting can be seen below:

Enabling high-engagement ads extends the duration before users can skip ads and increase the number of steps required to exit, leading to higher ad engagement

Implementing High-Engagement Ads

By default, high-engagement ads are enabled and available on all the interstitial and rewarded inventory.

To utilize high-engagement ads for a specific inventory, turn off high-engagement ads for the selected inventory.

For the best performance from high engagement, ensure the following:

Has the protection “Block Non-Instream Video Ads” disabled
Allows skippable video ads and sets skippable video maximum duration of 60 seconds or greater
Allows non-skippable video ads and sets a non-skippable video maximum duration of 60 seconds or greater.

To Set Up in Google Ad Manager

Sign In: Access your Google Ad Manager account.
Ensure that the “Block Non-Instream Video Ads” protection option is turned off
Go to Inventory then “Inventory rules”.
Video Settings: Create a “New Ad Format Setting” or select one that is already existing.
Select Inventory: Choose where you’d like high-engagement ads to be enabled.
Select High-Engagement Ads: Ensure the “Disable High-Engagement Ads” option is unchecked.
Set Video Ad Preferences:
- Under “Skippable Video,” make sure “Block All Skippable Video Ads” remains unchecked, and the maximum duration is 60 seconds or greater.
- Under “Non-Skippable Video,” make sure “Block All Non-Skippable Video Ads” remains unchecked, and the maximum duration is 60 seconds or greater.
Save Changes

For a more detailed understanding of these configurations, refer to Google’s official site.

Disabling High-Engagement Ads

By default, high-engagement ads are enabled across all interstitial and rewarded inventory.

If you choose to disable high-engagement ads for specific inventory:

Sign In: On your Google Ad Manager account.
Go to Inventory: then go to “Inventory rules”
Video Settings: Add “New Ad Format Setting” or select one that already exists.
Select Targeting: Choose inventory where you don’t want to show high engagement ads.
High Engagement Ads: Check the “Disable High-Engagement Ads” option.
Save Changes

Publishers will be automatically enrolled in high-engagement ads unless they proactively disable them before March 24, 2025.

Best Practices for High-Engagement Ads

To boost the performance of high-engagement ads:

Monitor User Feedback: Analyze user feedback regularly to ensure experiences with ads remain positive.
Analyze Performance Metrics: Such as CTR, completion rate, and user retention.
Ad Formats: Test different ad formats and ad lengths to find what works best for your audience.

Google will inform of any updates related to the changes in the launch of high-engagement ads.

Implementing high-engagement ads properly will allow publishers to increase engagement rates and drive revenue without sacrificing user experience.

How MagicBid Helps You Earn More

If you’re not making the most of your ad space, you’re leaving money on the table.

MagicBid helps web, app, and CTV publishers maximize revenue with smarter ad placement and optimization tools.

Web Monetization: Get better ad visibility, higher engagement, and more revenue from every impression.
In-App Monetization: Connect with premium advertisers to boost fill rates and eCPMs effortlessly.
CTV Monetization: Deliver high-quality, tailored ad experiences that keep viewers engaged and advertisers paying more.

With MagicBid’s advanced ad tech and expert support, you can turn your traffic into higher earnings without the guesswork.

Connect with us now to get a free ad revenue evaluation.

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Updates

February 11, 2025February 13, 2025Kashish

Google Search Console Adds Hourly Data Export

Do you know Google Search Console recently unveiled a revolutionary tool for site owners and marketers? With new functionality for hourly data exports and 24-hour views, the capability to keep close tabs on a website’s performance is better now than ever almost real-time.

At the same time, this will lower data latency by 50 percent, facilitating quick and easy decisions.

In this blog, we’ll explore the key highlights of this update, why it matters, and how it can revolutionize your approach to website optimization and SEO.

Key Features of the Update

Export Data by the Hour:

The most significant change in Google Search Console is the opportunity to export data in hourly increments.

Instead of daily extraction, which could make the users wait for the service to pick up speed in addressing their problems, the new facility will surely be very rewarding for all services looking to address very recent performance tendencies.

With hourly data exports, marketers and website administrators will now have access to granular information and watch changes as they occur.

Benefits of Hourly Data Exports:

Faster Issue Detection: Find sudden dips in traffic or technical errors on your site within hours rather than waiting a day.
Conversion Optimization: Use Conversion Data to Make Sure the Background Knowledge Coordinates with the Site.
Data-Driven Decisions: Do I think the application of this lesson would enhance my activities, or will it merely serve to divert me momentarily?

Why the 24-Hour View Matters

Real time Monitoring: Keep track of the performance of your website throughout the day without having to wait for overnight reports.

Analyzing Trends: Notice time-dependent patterns, including better engagement hours.

Better Reaction Times: Response immediately to surprises such as rapid and unexpected surge/drop in traffic.

Reduced Delays in Data End

Data delays in Google Search Console have also decreased by 50%. Earlier, data could take a little longer to show up, so performance data didn’t come immediately.

This delayed the action in most cases. With this change, the time has reduced substantially, and thus, users will get fresh, updated metrics more regularly.

Benefits of Less Data Delay

The analysis is sooner: Get new data faster for quicker optimization.

Seamless Reporting: Generate reports with current metrics for stakeholders and clients.

Competitive Edge: Act on trends before competitors can.

Why This Update Is a Game-Changer

For anyone managing a website, especially in very competitive industries, timing is everything. The ability to export hourly data, along with the 24-hour view and reduced data delays, brings several advantages

Improved SEO Strategy: With this update, you can refine your SEO strategy by actually knowing the keywords and content that are currently popular as you get real-time feedback.

Smoother User Experience: With faster insights on traffic and engagement, the site administrator can easily identify technical issues and content gaps that need to be rectified.

Data Granularity: Hourly data is useful, thereby providing detailed analysis so marketers get to know the impact that a news event or a seasonal trend has on website traffic.

Use Cases Across Industries

E-commerce

Online sellers can analyze the effects of traffic coming from a flash sale or new products on customers, in real-time. If a flash sale is not doing well, the advertising strategy can be changed almost instantaneously.

Media and Publishing

A news publisher can keep an eye on hours including hot news; in the event of a headache, they can change the stories over and allocate materials to make the audience better interact.

Digital Marketing Agencies

Multiple client agencies can utilize hourly exporting to monitor and report on their client campaigns monitoring in real time. This boosts the relations with the clients and concrete campaign performance.

Leveraging the Update in a Proper Way

Here are some practical steps for better utilizing the new features of Google Search Console:

Set Up Alerts: Be alerted when your site’s traffic has taken any long-lasting dip incongruous with the recent monthly record!

Analytics Tool Integrate with Analytics Tools-Export data based on hour that can further be taken on Google Data Studio for in-depth analysis and data visualization.

Metric Tracking of Higher Priority Click, impression average positioning, as in high traffic.

Peak hours’ analysis is carried out when your website comes across its heavy traffic hour; analyze the best-optimizing content around your peak hour.

Challenge Points

It surely has plenty to offer to benefits but while offering those also remembers some points such as Huge volumes of data exported in an hourly format can pose higher storage space needs and demand analysis tools

Increased Time: Following the performance is bound to absorb some time especially if the group size is less in number.

Steeper learning curve: Someone using Google Search Console for the first time, especially these facilities may take some time before mastering all these.

Google Search Console’s latest innovations are hourly data exports, a 24-hour view, and reduced data delays. These indicate a step closer to real-time monitoring of performance for businesses, marketers, and publishers to make better, data-driven decisions sooner in this competitive digital landscape.

This means it’s time to explore these updates if you haven’t gone through them yet. Start exporting your hourly data now and unlock the full potential of real-time insights to elevate your SEO and website performance strategies.

How MagicBid Helps You Earn More

If you’re not making the most of your ad space, you’re leaving money on the table. MagicBid helps web, app, and CTV publishers maximize revenue with smarter ad placement and optimization tools.

Web Monetization: Get better ad visibility, higher engagement, and more revenue from every impression.

In-App Monetization: Connect with premium advertisers to boost fill rates and eCPMs effortlessly.

CTV Monetization: Deliver high-quality, tailored ad experiences that keep viewers engaged and advertisers paying more.

With MagicBid’s advanced ad tech and expert support, you can turn your traffic into higher earnings without the guesswork. Connect with us now to get a free ad revenue evaluation.

Get Started Now

Updates

January 28, 2025January 28, 2025Priyanka Bhati

Google’s Updated Search Quality Rater Guidelines: What Publishers Should Know

Google’s Updated Search Quality Rater Guidelines

Google is setting the standard for the quality of content in today’s digital world. Here, some essential updates to the Search Quality Rater Guidelines cut across, and publishers ought to be up to speed.

The new requirements outline what Google needs to ensure in its quest to prioritize user-first content while paying attention to AI and spammer trends. So, let’s get down to what publishers need to know.

Understanding the Changes

Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines have constantly been a guide through which content quality will be evaluated. The new update centers its focus more sharply on AI-generated content, better maintenance of content value, and specific strategies against spam techniques.

1. Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content: New Definitions and Clarity

Google has recently clearly stated its position on what is and isn’t AI-generated content.

The company further explains that only when AI tools are useful to publishers does the content deliver unique value to its users.

What this means for publishers is that using AI in content creation is permissible; however, the content itself cannot be the repetition of something that already exists.

2. Unique Value Must Be Provided

The guidelines stipulate that however content is developed, it should address the requirements of users. AI tools could be used for content development. However, their output must come with new perspectives, solutions, or insights that publishers can derive. Google does favor user-centric experiences, so repetitive or boilerplate content would not rank highly.

3. Addressing New Types of Spam

Google just recently exposed three new spams that contravene its guidelines. If the publishers of these sites want to keep their credibility and ranking, they should not adopt any of the following techniques:

Expired Domain Abuse: Using a dead domain to rank higher or mislead users is also being penalized.
Site Reputation Abuse: Any attempt to build a false reputation or manipulate trustworthiness will be penalized.
Content Abuse: Massive low-quality and duplicate content creation is considered damaging.

These additions clearly show that Google is determined to put an end to all deceptive activities and reward actual publishers.

What Publishers Can Do

The new Search Quality Rater Guidelines mean that publishers must strategically change their approach to creating and managing content. Here is what you can do:

Use AI Wisely: Apply AI tools for efficiency but concentrate on fresh perspectives and original ideas.
Quality Over Quantity: Avoid churning out high volumes of repetitive content. Instead, write meaningful pieces that solve user problems.
No Spamming: Stick to the best practice in SEO by focusing on obtaining credibility for the website ethically.

Why These Updates Matter

Updates of these kinds find their significance within Google’s initiative to provide improved user experiences.

In addition, to defining AI-generated content while combating spam, Google makes the publishers shift towards value and integrity.

To a publisher, this means that the evolution of strategy should accommodate such purposes to succeed in the digital domain. The latest Search Quality Rater Guidelines remind one to evolve their content in place of emerging user expectations.

It means publishers have to be original, with quality content, and to be on the ethical side to move ahead in rankings.

Once they understand and implement these updates, publishers can build sustainable credibility and provide meaningful value to their audience.

Get Started Now

Updates

January 10, 2025January 14, 2025Priyanka Bhati

ChatGPT Updates: Free Search, Voice, and Maps

Increased access and retrieval is as an effect of artificial intelligence to human inputs of information. OpenAI has released cool new features into the overall platform of ChatGPT, improving its usability and accessibility. Whether you’re into web surf, voice command, or just getting around the local block, the convenience gets redefined. Let us find out further from these amazing updates.

Free Web Search for Everybody

Real-time information has never been so easy. ChatGPT now makes all account holders free web searching, so much easier to find all the latest news, trends, and data without barriers.

What This Means:- You can now search for fresh, real-world information without leaving the ChatGPT interface. Whether you need the latest techno innovation, some hot-breaking news, or even arcane, specific knowledge about a topic, it is all only a query away.
Why It Matters:- This portrays the end of private states; formerly, only paying users had this facility accorded to them. They got good news, especially students, researchers, and small business owners, who needed the latest insights at no cost.

Voice Search: Multilingual and Real-Time

When it turns into sound, it gets closer to reality, voice search provides more conversational interaction with ChatGPT. This feature allows users to ask real-time queries in many languages, thus enhancing the user experience.

Features At a Glance:

Support for all languages forms a worldwide place by finding a common thread of communication.
The capability to respond in real time is an excellent travel partner for answering questions.
An adaptive learning experience makes it more accurate when used.

Usability

Driving or multitasking hands-free.
Users with disabilities can access more.
Fast translations, pronunciation help, and conversations in other languages.

Maps Integration in Mobile Apps

Cutting-edge modernity recently brought map integration into ChatGPT for finding and even guiding a person from an unfamiliar place to a local business.

Prime Benefits:

Local Business Discovery: Search whenever possible for nearby restaurants, stores, or service providers.
User-friendly Navigation: Maps are integrated into an app that provides a step-by-step approach within the app.
Customers get more Money-related mobile experience: A consolidated tool for query, search, and location assistance for mobile-based customers.

The Way It Will Be In Real Life:
Sure, how about needing a coffee while traveling? Just ask, and you’ll have ChatGPT’s maps feature to help you out.
Surely, you’d like to look for local businesses to weigh against one another? The app just makes searching and deciding easier.

How These Updates Change User Experience

Those two updates will amplify what remains true for ChatGPT. Making information accessible, practical, and actionable. Here are some ways:

Tools for searching, asking, and navigating all unify into one platform.
Free and multilingual features attract a broad audience.
Speedier and more dependable responses make everyday tasks much more efficient.

The Future of ChatGPT

Alas, this is just the beginning. As innovation continues at OpenAI, the features available to users will redefine how they interact with technology. Infinitely applicable, from more intelligent AI to broader integration, the potential is limitless.

The latest updates to ChatGPT, which include a free online browsing capability, voice functionality, and maps integration, are meant to empower users in all facets of their digital lives. If you are trying to understand everything about the world, how to use your day more efficiently, or how to travel wisely, ChatGPT now shines more brightly in all those areas too. Come and see the future of AI-enabled assistance today by trying out these features.

How Magicbid Will Help You

MagicBid offers comprehensive software solutions that foster profitable expansion by maximizing monetization and utilizing artificial intelligence for strategic, data-driven marketing choices.

Collaborating with businesses, MagicBid ensures tailored experiences on a vast global level, enhancing engagement and customer satisfaction.

With the right technology and experience, one can achieve a greater goal.

Magicbid enhances your monetization capabilities with their experience and tech expertise.

Connect with us now to get a free ad revenue evaluation.

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Updates

January 7, 2025January 14, 2025Priyanka Bhati

Google Confirmed Click Penalty: How to Avoid & Recover

As a publisher, ensuring that ad revenue is a steady stream can be very critical to the success of your digital platform. However, some unforeseen issues can sneak up and affect your earnings; one such problem is the Confirmed Click Penalty by Google. Such a penalty is likely to dramatically reduce your CTR and ad impressions, which impacts your revenue streams.

Whether you’re already seeing the negative impact of this penalty or want to proactively safeguard your ad revenue, knowing what the Confirmed Click Penalty is and how it affects your ads is critical. In this article, we will dive deep into what this penalty entails, why Google applies it, how to detect it, and the steps you can take to recover from it or avoid it altogether.

Confirmed Click Penalty Definition

The Confirmed Click Penalty is also sometimes called the Two-Click or Double Click penalty. The Confirmed Click Penalty is a Google automatic feature to counter invalid click traffic. It usually targets websites and ad units that exhibit more than normal accidental clicks or fraudulent click activities. Click through this ad by one user, now the user should fill an extra action like a visit site button after clicking which indicates that he’s ready to see the advertiser landing page. If not clicked by this confirmation button for the publisher it will not add any revenue to the account based on that particular click.

Why Does Google Apply the Confirmed Click Penalty?

The most prominent reason for the application of the Confirmed Click Penalty is dealing with invalid clicks, specifically accidental ones, that might result from bad ad placement or user mistakes. Google is continually trying to make digital advertising a better experience and increase the efficiency of ads; it has recently taken an interest in filtering out low-quality traffic.

The Confirmed Click Penalty is part of the overall effort by Google towards keeping user experiences improved, and even the concern for Core Web Vitals reflects a continuous push for making the sites more usable. Cumulative layout shift, an average measure that penalizes websites with shifting content while loading, can result in accidental clicks and other forms of invalid clicks that lead to improper click rates.

Google, therefore uses the Confirmed Click feature every time it recognizes patterns where users click on ads by mistake because of misleading ad placement, reflowing content, or lack of sufficient padding between ads and other content.

How Google Detects Accidental Clicks

The self-service system monitors interactions on ad units and finds patterns that could imply accidental clicks. For instance, users always click on ads in such a way that one cannot get meaningful engagements like low conversion rates and bounce rates to ignore user activities: Google will confirm the users’ intentional click by applying the Confirmed Click functionality.

Inadequate padding or spacing between the ads: The navigation buttons and menus plus other details may accidentally get clicked due to how closely they appear to the ads.
Deceptive ad placement: Some ads can be placed in such a way that they are portrayed as content. The ad may also become a link or button to attract random clicks.
Overlapped sticky ads with other content: Sticky or floating ads might interfere with a user’s natural navigation flow, making them click on such ads accidentally.
Reflow of content: Whenever content re-flows while pages are loading due to delayed ad loads, users will end up mis-clicking the ads since they might have not intended to do so.

How to Identify If Your Website Is Affected by the Confirmed Click Penalty?

There are several ways to identify whether the Confirmed Click Penalty has been implemented on your ad inventory:

Decline in eCPM and CTR: If eCPM and CTR have taken a huge fall but traffic doesn’t go down, then there’s a good chance that the Confirmed Click Penalty has been applied on your website.
Check Your Site’s Code: Look for the ad tag in the header of your site for the keyword ‘confirmedClickVisible’. This will tell you if Google has flagged your ad units with the penalty.
Google Policy Center: Look within your Google Ad Manager account and find the Policy Center. Search for warnings over invalid clicks, also known as Confirmed Click Penalty. Here is where you shall view potential issues with ads.
Partner Health Score: If using Google Ad Manager, a rate of invalid clicks may affect a higher rate here. A drastically sharp decline in the health score likely means the confirmed click penalty applies

How to Solve and Prevent a Confirmed Click Penalty

Knowing what you should do to rectify the situation or avoid it from happening in the first place is as important as knowing how the Confirmed Click Penalty works. Here are some best practices you should observe:

Add Extra Padding Around Ads:- Adding padding around ads prevents accidental clicks, especially in areas where users will most likely click, such as navigation bars or buttons.

Make Ads Distinct from Content:- Clearly mark your ads as advertisements using clear labels like Sponsored or Advertisement. Avoid making ads appear as content so that they are not mistaken and clicked accidentally.

Place Ads Wisely:- Place ads in places where they will not interfere with key navigational elements or content. For example, avoid placing ads near buttons that users are likely to click on or in areas where content may shift.

Avoid Content Reflow:- Use fixed-size containers for your ads, especially for in-article or in-feed ads, to avoid layout shifts that can cause accidental clicks.

Optimize Your Site’s Page Speed:- The content will jump around because the page is taking a long to load, and accidental clicks on ads are very likely. Ensure that your page loads as fast as possible to make the experience smooth and reduce accidental clicks.

Diversify Your Revenue Streams:- This tends to happen when relying heavily on the Google ad network, as it did with the penalty from the Confirmed Click, so now might be an excellent time to try a little diversification of other monetizing techniques, perhaps header bidding, which may help prevent putting too much revenue on one line.

How Long Will It Take To Remove This Penalty?

The Confirmed Click Penalty is not something that publishers can remove manually. Google will automatically monitor the performance of ad units, and if it determines that there is a sustained improvement in click quality-for example, fewer accidental clicks, the, the penalty will be removed eventually. It will take some time depending on the changes you implement and how soon Google can evaluate the improved click quality.

Defending Your Revenue Against the Confirmed Click Penalty

This penalty can be quite a plague for publishers, but at least by following some best practices and improving ad placements, you may be able to avoid or recover from this penalty.

After all, staying proactive- maintaining good user experience on your website, higher page load times, and varied sources of revenue will continue to keep your ad revenue healthy.

If you are having problems with the Confirmed Click Penalty or need help optimizing your ad setup, we at Snigel are here to help you.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you implement strategies that maximize your ad revenue while keeping your site compliant with Google’s best practices.

How Magicbid Will Help You

MagicBid offers a powerful suite of tools to enhance monetization strategies across web, app, and Connected TV (CTV) platforms.

Web monetization ensures optimal ad placements to boost visibility and engagement, supported by detailed analytics to continuously refine strategies.

In-app monetization, MagicBid seamlessly integrates with various demand sources to maximize fill rates and eCPM.

For CTV, it delivers personalized, high-quality ad experiences, ensuring maximum audience engagement.

By leveraging MagicBid’s Ad Tech Solutions, publishers can optimize ad inventory and unlock new revenue streams across all digital channels.

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Updates

December 23, 2024January 14, 2025Priyanka Bhati

Google Rolls Out Its Final Spam Update of 2024

With the year 2024 nearing an end, Google finally released its much-awaited December spam update. As part of this spam-fighting effort towards better search quality, Google is going to conclude the update within the next week.

Like the previous December core update that was released one week before this one, the release would also mark the end of momentous changes in Google’s spam policies and updates in its algorithm.

Let’s break down the important things that this update has for the owners of the website and the digital marketers.

This December update comes in a chain of crucial changes that were brought forth by Google in the year 2024. With many updates on its algorithms, particularly core ones during the months of March, August, November, and finally in December, it has been quite a ride dealing with many things this year 2024.

March Core Update: Targeted policy-violating websites and reduced ‘unhelpful’ content by 40%.
August Core Update: Targeted devaluation of low-quality SEO content and promotion of high-quality material.
November Core Update: Enforced SRA penalties with more strict enforcement.
December Core Update: Improved a number of systems in parallel that closely resemble the most recent spam update.

All these updates have the objective that users’ experience will be better and high-quality content on search results along with the elimination of manipulative practice.

December Spam Update

The December spam update is part of Google’s efforts to identify and suppress various types of spam.

Improved detection systems: Google further refined the algorithms for detecting spam, which made it hard for sites to use spammy practices to manipulate rankings.

Target Low-Value Content:- As with most of the updates this year, the algorithm has targeted low-value automated or AI-generated content, that offers little to no value to the users.

Focus on Policy Violations: The updated Google spam policies strictly observe those websites that abuse a site’s reputation and use of scaled content against their policies. There have been changes in these broader policy updates Google carried out in the year, determining how spam is detected as well as penalized.

Key Policy Changes in 2024

Google introduced three key policy updates in 2024. All of them targeted specific issues with spamming.

Site Reputation Abuse (SRA):- It targeted ‘parasite SEO’ practices that used well-established domains for unauthorized third-party content.

Publishers host third-party reviews or coupons.
This led to manual penalties for publishers that were unable to monitor hosted content.

Expired Domain Abuse:- Manipulative practices involving expired domains:

Backlink exploitation.
Repurposing domains for unrelated content.
Domain squatting for ranking manipulation.

Scaled Content Abuse:- Massed scaled AI-generated content and other content translation manipulation techniques.

These policies have undergone drastic changes in the contents of many websites, so more accountability and good content quality standards are being followed.

Core Update, besides these spam-focused updates, there were several spam-specific updates released by Google during the year:

June Spam Update: This focused on the detection of automated content and policy violations, which rolled out over the course of a week.
November SRA Enforcement: Increased site reputation abuse penalties and dramatically altered publishers’ content strategies.

Together, these updates indicate a new way for Google to handle spam and its integrity in the search ecosystem.

What This Means for Website Owners

During December’s update regarding spam, website owners and the digital marketing industry must expect ranking variation. Here are a couple of tips for compliance with Google’s revised policies.

Quality-focused- Ensure your content is novel, valuable, and relevant.
Avoid the following manipulative practices:

Link exploitation.
Automated content.
Keyword stuffing.

Monitor Hosted Content: Third-party content on your site has to be checked upon frequently through a set of strict monitoring and quality assurance processes.
Follow Google’s Guidelines: Understand the latest updates from Google and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Looking Ahead

With Google ending its 2024 spam-fighting campaign, the industry will look forward to more quality content and ethical SEO practices in 2025. As the December spam update is almost complete, businesses need to be vigilant, monitor ranking changes, and adjust to the guidelines that are evolving.

The Search Status Dashboard of Google tracks ongoing rollouts and allows the website owner to track the changes and plan accordingly.

This is because, following the policies of Google and user-centric approaches, businesses can not only survive but thrive in the dynamic digital ecosystem.

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Ad Tech, Updates

December 16, 2024January 14, 2025Priyanka Bhati

Google Launches December 2024 Core Update

On December 2024, Google was busy releasing the December Algorithm Update, the sad news for the November update was that it was successful, even this sad news would have ensembles to surface.

With respect to the updates and modifications this was an important step on the right direction for the company as it provided better search results to its users.

Google December update is set to be out and it’s expected to only take about two weeks, What is interesting is that Google had suggested that because their updates are continuous in nature, a core update can follow within the next timeline.

Google’s Announcement

The update to the November foundational update became complicated which created confusion as to the purpose of this update in the first place.

It was stated that getting updates a week apart was not a comfortable zone and that the core November rollout would also coincide with the update timeline outlined in December.

Purpose of establishing these criteria and the core updates was to have distinct rankings purely for the basis of relevancy and relevance was ranked on the level of satisfying search requirements.

In addition, the company emphasizes that such upgrades should not be understood to be aimed at punishing websites, rather they are aimed at rewarding those pages with highly authoritative and user-friendly content.

Things to Remember for Site Owners

Just like all other core changes, Google did not specify in the December update what exactly they managed to change.

However, the recommendations for the website owners do not change:

Emphasize useful, trustworthy, and user-oriented materials.
Check the guidance provided by Google on their sites regarding updates.
Report all alterations to the site traffic and changes in search results.

Through this means one can get regular reports on the status of the rollout, or even subscribe via RSS feeds to get timely alerts on the changes on this means.

Celebrating a Year of Changes to the Algorithm

The update rolled out in December 2024 is the last one for the year and consequently brings to a close a year full of changes initiated by Google on their algorithm. Each of those changes serves to reinforce their claim of improving search results and enhancing the user experience.

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Updates

December 12, 2024January 14, 2025Priyanka Bhati

Core Web Vitals Update: Google Focuses on Real-World Data

In the modern landscape of today’s digital speed, the significance of website performance has increased. Core Web Vitals have emerged as core metrics to measure and optimize for user experience, but Google has taken a step forward by shifting its focus toward field data or actual-world metrics of how users really interact with websites. Adjustments are also featured in this update of PageSpeed Insights and the throttling mechanisms of Lighthouse scores to get web owners to focus more on real performance rather than synthetic metrics.

Why Google is Focus on Field Data

Field data is the actual performance of websites, really experienced by actual users, whereas lab data is simulating the controlled lab environment, wherein field data gives an actual view of how website performance works across various devices, network conditions, and geographies.

With regard to field data, Google argues that it should continue offering excellent experiences to all types of users regardless of the situation. There is a need to relate to a broader goal of increasing the satisfaction and engagement of the users.

Core Web Vitals Update: Google Focuses on Real-World Data

PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse Scores Changes

One of the updates under this Core Web Vitals initiative is that Google is modifying PageSpeed Insights throttling. This is to make Lighthouse scores more realistic and more aligned with real-world user experiences.

Previously, developers optimized their sites so as to achieve high scores for Lighthouse even at the cost of sacrificing real-world performance. With this change, Google is nudging the developer to shift from synthetic benchmarks to true user experience.

Prioritizing Actual Performance Optimization

Since so much is changing and going forward rapidly, websites need to focus on real-world optimization rather than continue the pursuit of very good lab scores to excel in the digital game. Key Web Vitals, like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) become components of today. Improving these parameters by using field data not only ensures better outcomes for users and a greater chance of retention and conversions but also aligns with Google’s new approach.

Practical Steps to Enhance Core Web Vitals

Here are practical steps for improvement of your website’s core web vitals based on field data:

Optimize Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Minimize render-blocking resources and optimize images.
Reduce First Input Delay (FID): Target execution time of JavaScript and browser response.
Improve Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Add dimensions to images and prevent inserting content above the fold.
Analyze Field Data: Make use of tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights and Search Console to track performance.
Monitor and Test: Continuously test your updates across real devices and networks for accurate results.

Why This Update Matters

By focusing on field data for Core Web Vitals and adjusting PageSpeed Insights throttling, Google encourages a more authentic approach toward website optimization. Such a shift makes it challenging for businesses to adapt toward a user-first mindset while ensuring that their websites perform great in the real world rather than just in controlled tests.

This means an update that marks a big shift in the way websites measure and optimize performance. With this increased preference for field data over lab data, Google actually emphasizes real-world user experience. For a website owner, this means focusing on making sure actual performance is improved so your site can fulfill the different needs of users.

How Magicbid Will Help You

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