What Are Intrusive Interstitials & Dialogs? #
- Interstitials: Overlays that cover the entire page, blocking access to content.
- Dialogs: Smaller pop-ups that block part of the content.
- Typically used for promotions, app installs, or sign-ups.
Why Avoid Intrusive Interstitials? #
- They frustrate users by blocking access to content immediately.
- Make it harder for Google to crawl and understand your page content.
- Can harm your search rankings and user trust.
- Users may avoid your site if it’s difficult to use.
Best Practices for Non-Intrusive Dialogs: #
1. Use Banners Instead of Full Interstitials #
- Use banners that take only a small portion of the screen (e.g., app install banners or newsletter sign-ups).
- Banners allow users to see and interact with your content without interruption.
- Examples: Smart App Banners (Safari), Chrome in-app install prompts, small HTML banners.
2. Use Standard Libraries and Plugins #
- Use CMS plugins or standard dialog libraries (e.g., WordPress plugins for newsletter signups).
- This helps Google better recognize and handle dialogs, improving SEO.
3. Avoid Common Mistakes #
- Don’t cover the entire page with an interstitial unless legally required.
- Avoid redirecting users to a different page for consent or input (e.g., no separate consent page).
- Allow users to access content immediately without forced actions.
Handling Mandatory Interstitials #
Some sites must show interstitials for legal or safety reasons (like age verification for casinos). In these cases:
- Overlay the content with the interstitial rather than blocking it entirely.
- Don’t redirect all traffic to a single consent page—this can remove your content from Google’s index.
- Serve full content to Googlebot without triggering the interstitial, so Google can crawl and index your content.
Summary #
Focus on non-disruptive, user-friendly dialogs that let visitors access your content easily, and avoid full-page pop-ups unless absolutely necessary. This approach improves user satisfaction and helps your SEO.