Ask Are pop-under ads bad for SEO?

[Brajet]

Hello SEO experts,

I recently applied for Google AdSense, but unfortunately, my application was rejected. Since AdSense isn't an option for now, I'm exploring alternative ways to monetize my website. One of the main methods I'm considering is using popup ads provided by third-party networks. However, I've read numerous articles warning that popup ads can create a poor user experience and potentially drive visitors away. That said, I'm curious about pop-under ads instead. Since pop-unders don't appear until the user closes or leaves the current tab, they seem less intrusive. Could this be a more acceptable way to monetize my traffic? I'd also like to know if using pop-under ads could negatively impact my site's SEO or search rankings in any way.

 

[Anthony Joshua]

From what I've learned, pop-under ads are generally less intrusive than pop-ups since they appear behind the main browser window, which can reduce immediate annoyance for visitors. In terms of SEO, they don't directly affect rankings because Google mostly looks at page content, speed, and user experience metrics. The key risk is indirect: if your visitors find the ads frustrating and leave quickly, your bounce rate could rise, which may influence SEO over time. So moderation and testing are important.

 

[Felix😎]

Using pop-under ads can be risky for SEO because they can lead to poor user engagement. If visitors find them annoying, they might leave your site quickly, which increases your bounce rate and signals to Google that your content isn't meeting user expectations. Google also penalizes sites with overly intrusive ads, so sticking to less invasive methods is a better approach for maintaining good SEO performance.

 

[Dean101]

Search engines like Google want websites to give users a good experience. If ads keep popping up, slow the site down, or make visitors leave fast, rankings can drop. A lot of people see pop-under ads as spammy, so they might not trust the site or stay long enough to read anything. They're especially bad on phones because they can make browsing frustrating. That said, having some ads is normal and usually okay if they aren't too aggressive. At the end of the day, good content and a smooth website matter way more for SEO

 

[Brendan]

My bigger worry with pop-unders isn't Google honestly, it's the visitor. If someone clicks away annoyed and never comes back, that hurts you long before any ranking drop shows up. Bounce rate and real trust probably matter more than the technical SEO side.