Google AdSense Can Hurt Your Search Engine Page Rankings

By: Kara Gilmour
Staff Writer
Published: Feb 21, 2009

Google AdSense contextual advertising debate on whether or not it affects search engine rankings.

Google Inc's AdSense is a contextual advertising program which is once again rumored to decrease the search engine or page rank on Web sites. The rumor is spreading from Webmasters to bloggers who claim their search engine or page rankings have dropped when adding a particular ad network to their sites.

While some Webmasters claim that their rankings dropped after adding Google AdSense, or another ad network, we can tell you that it is a myth. There are also some alleged studies and research published by people, calling themselves experts, who try and convince others that their reduction in search engine rankings is caused by advertisements. However, some of this is true, but it has nothing to do with AdSense.

For example, if a Web site accepts paid link advertisements from another site hoping to gain a higher Google Page Rank or search engine ranking, this will have an impact on the hosted site. The reason is, Google and other search engines label this as "keyword stuffing" or "cheating" to make their way to the top. It's a method that does not work, been tested, and that's why you don't see the big sites practicing it.

Google AdSense does not lower search engine rankings or page rank.

Google AdSense will not hurt your search engine rankings or page rank on other search engines. It doesn't matter which search engine, they do not practice this method. There was an article published on a blog site where it claimed both MSN and Yahoo were purposely lowering the ranking for sites that carry another search engine's contextual advertisements.

When you read something on the Internet from a Webmaster or blogger who blames AdSense, or some other ad network, for their poor search engine results, it's usually something they did to their site. It has nothing to do with contextual advertisements. If your Web site is playing by the rules and not participating in paid link schemes, your site should be fine.

Paid link schemes does not include contextual advertising programs from Google, Yahoo, or any other reputable company. These are schemes also known as "farm links" where another Webmaster pays for a text link placement on a site hoping to increase their rankings. If you want good search results, do not participate in these schemes.

Running ads from another non-contextual ad network with Google AdSense is fine. This will not lower your search rankings. There's been some speculation on whether Google lowers a Web site ranking if they run both AdSense and another third-party ad network.

This rumor started when some blogger posted an article that was pure speculation. They claim that Google does not want Web sites which run other ad networks to earn a high page rank because the ad network will take advantage of the site's credibility and traffic. If this happens, then Google is competing directly with the third-party ad network which could harm their AdSense revenues.

That is also a myth. Google wants your Web site to earn a high page rank, so they can sell more advertisements. Follow the rules and obey all terms of service, and you'll be fine.