So we know Google isn't a fan of pop ups on web sites, well, at least the webmaster analysts team isn't a fan of them. But in a question asked by Mihai Aperghis in a Google Hangout on Google+ two weeks ago, John Mueller told him it is possible that a pop up can be looked at by Google as the primary content on that page.
The conversation was around pop ups, marketing pop ups.
Mihai asked "Is there a risk that Googlebot might give higher priority to the content on the pop-up instead of the content behind it?"
John Mueller from Google responded, "That can happen, yeah. That can definitely happen."
Here is the fuller transcript:
JOHN MUELLER: I think, just from a usability point of view, if you put this in front of a user before they're even able to see what you offer, it's probably counterproductive, in that you're not really getting the most value out of that.On the other hand, if you can tell that someone is already browsing your website, and they're looking at stuff, or maybe they're reading through a longer page, then maybe it makes sense to let them know, hey, if you really like this, is a great way to kind of keep in touch, stay up to date with the new changes. And maybe that makes sense to kind of, like you said, delay it into the session.
MIHAI APERGHIS: OK, but let's say that doesn't happen. Is there a risk that Googlebot might give higher priority to the content on the pop-up instead of the content behind it?
JOHN MUELLER: That can happen, yeah. That can definitely happen.
This starts around the 43:32 mark:
Here is the video embed:
Hat tip to @glenngabe for pulling this nugget out.
