Is blocking adblock users bad for SEO?

[ContentWriter]

Hi, everyone. May I ask if any member here has done a case study on whether blocking adblock users is bad for SEO or not?

If not for SEO reasons, did it create a significant negative impact on your revenue and the number of sign-ups on your newsletter?

 

[LordFatMoth]

According to a post on pagefair, 615 million devices now use adblock so if you block users of adblock you are missing out on a significant amount of traffic.
some more facts from it

• 74% of American adblock users say they leave sites with adblock walls
• 77% of American adblock users willing to view some ad formats

 

[cplay]

Why would you block the users?

Why would you not just install a plugin that pops up and says; please remove adblocker or we can't afford to give you all this great FREE content

 

[ContentWriter]

According to a post on pagefair, 615 million devices now use adblock so if you block users of adblock you are missing out on a significant amount of traffic.
some more facts from it

Thanks for the facts, @stevenjcolwell. I already did my research and saw some stats like what you've shared.
I've also read a comment that says it's generally okay to lose those visitors that were adamant to disable their adblocker. It also said that no matter how awesome your content is, some people are just lazy enough to disable the adblocker. On that note, what I've read further stated that if they can't afford to disable an adblocker in exchange for your awesome and free content, it's highly likely that they won't pull out their credit card when you sell something to them.

What are your thoughts on that? Do you agree or disagree?

Why would you not just install a plugin that pops up and says; please remove adblocker or we can't afford to give you all this great FREE content

Hi, @cplay. This is what I'm trying to say. I should have phrased the title of my thread more accurately.
I already installed a WP plugin called AdBlock Notify. It does exactly how you described it above.

 

[Nut-Nights]

You know bandwidth cost $$ a month and adblock users dont want to see one ad. So better block them. Dont give a f*ck about Google and its seo.

 

[LordFatMoth]

Thanks for the facts, @stevenjcolwell. I already did my research and saw some stats like what you've shared.
I've also read a comment that says it's generally okay to lose those visitors that were adamant to disable their adblocker. It also said that no matter how awesome your content is, some people are just lazy enough to disable the adblocker. On that note, what I've read further stated that if they can't afford to disable an adblocker in exchange for your awesome and free content, it's highly likely that they won't pull out their credit card when you sell something to them.

What are your thoughts on that? Do you agree or disagree?

Hello, @ContentWriter,

I both agree and disagree as many people use adblock as it saves time for them if they have a slow connection or simply don't want to be bombarded with ads. Personally, i wouldn't block users of AdBlock so it all depends really. This may have to be something that i test out for myself now as i am interested in seeing the results.

 

[ContentWriter]

You know bandwidth cost $$ a month and adblock users dont want to see one ad

Hi, @Nut-Nights. I'm glad you're here. How have you been?
Between revenue and SEO, I think my bias is on the former.

Hello, @ContentWriter,

I both agree and disagree as many people use adblock as it saves time for them if they have a slow connection or simply don't want to be bombarded with ads. Personally, i wouldn't block users of AdBlock so it all depends really. This may have to be something that i test out for myself now as i am interested in seeing the results.

Hi, @stevenjcolwell. I'd love to hear more about the results of your test, Steven.

I'd like to share this conversation I found when I searched for this topic we're talking about.

 

[Nut-Nights]

Hi, @Nut-Nights. I'm glad you're here. How have you been?
Between revenue and SEO, I think my bias is on the former.

Zero impact on SEO, Big sites using it.

 

[cplay]

Hi, @cplay. This is what I'm trying to say. I should have phrased the title of my thread more accurately.
I already installed a WP plugin called AdBlock Notify. It does exactly how you described it above.

Then you should have no issue as many of the biggest sites use this.

One suggestion though;

1. have your pop notifying them to disable abblock on your page popup a few hundred words down the page/after 10/20 seconds. This way they have already began to engage with your content and will want to see the rest of it if good.

Speaking from my experience i am far more likely to refuse to disable adblock if i receive a message straight way but am more likely to disable adblocker half way through an article i want to finish (scarcity principle)

 

[ContentWriter]

Zero impact on SEO, Big sites using it.

Thank you for your inputs, @Nut-Nights. I appreciate it.

Then you should have no issue as many of the biggest sites use this.

One suggestion though;

1. have your pop notifying them to disable abblock on your page popup a few hundred words down the page/after 10/20 seconds. This way they have already began to engage with your content and will want to see the rest of it if good.

Speaking from my experience i am far more likely to refuse to disable adblock if i receive a message straight way but am more likely to disable adblocker half way through an article i want to finish (scarcity principle)

Hi, @cplay. I like your piece of advice. It makes sense. Let me adjust my settings. Many thanks!

By the way, would you also consider enabling the feature to close the pop-up (modal box) on background click?
Would you also enable the modal box's close button or hide the close button to force the user to disable his adblocker or whitelist your website?

 

[cplay]

Thank you for your inputs, @Nut-Nights. I appreciate it.



Hi, @cplay. I like your piece of advice. It makes sense. Let me adjust my settings. Many thanks!

By the way, would you also consider enabling the feature to close the pop-up (modal box) on background click?
Would you also enable the modal box's close button or hide the close button to force the user to disable his adblocker or whitelist your website?

No, at the end of the day mate you work your nuts of to try and scrape a living online (as we all do). If people can't be arsed to disable the adblocker (as far as i can see adsense is your ONLY way of making money) then fuck em, seriously.

You need to get paid, and that's that

PM your site if you want and i'll give you feedback from a user experience perspective.

All the best.

 

[ContentWriter]

No, at the end of the day mate you work your nuts of to try and scrape a living online (as we all do). If people can't be arsed to disable the adblocker (as far as i can see adsense is your ONLY way of making money) then fuck em, seriously.

You need to get paid, and that's that

PM your site if you want and i'll give you feedback from a user experience perspective.

All the best.

Good points, @cplay. I am thankful that I've opened this thread. I was able to validate my decision with your inputs.

 

[divok]

If you are a new site :- dont block users
If you are authority :- block users.

Reach out to your competitors and ask them to do the same.( if it's okay with you), recently all major indian news sites started blocking users on the same day.

 

[ContentWriter]

If you are a new site :- dont block users
If you are authority :- block users.

Reach out to your competitors and ask them to do the same.( if it's okay with you), recently all major indian news sites started blocking users on the same day.

Hi, @divok. Yes, I have an authority website. That adds up to my confidence in terms of enforcing this idea of asking adblockers to either whitelist my site if they'd like to access my content or disable their adblocker.

On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the idea of reaching out to my competitors and offering them the idea of doing the same. They might think that I'm trying to sabotage them or I'm trying to trick them for my advantage.

 

[divok]

Hi, @divok. Yes, I have an authority website. That adds up to my confidence in terms of enforcing this idea of asking adblockers to either whitelist my site if they'd like to access my content or disable their adblocker.

On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the idea of reaching out to my competitors and offering them the idea of doing the same. They might think that I'm trying to sabotage them or I'm trying to trick them for my advantage.

yes even I wouldn't contact my competitors, was just giving you an Idea.

 

[ContentWriter]

yes even I wouldn't contact my competitors, was just giving you an Idea.

Thanks, @divok. I've decided to pursue my plan of requiring adblock users to either whitelist my website or disable their adblocker.
My decision is rooting from the revenue's perspective.

 

[Takoona]

Surely you're bounce rate is going to be effected by blocking Adblock users..

 

[ContentWriter]

Surely you're bounce rate is going to be effected by blocking Adblock users..

Hi, @Takoona. I've quite of expected that already. But I'd rather send them away from my website if they have decided a long time ago that they have no plans of buying my products or services.

Think about this: if they are not willing to turn off their adblocker or whitelist my website, after explaining to them my reason for asking and despite the fact that they know they're going to get something that's useful from my website, I don't see the chance of making money from them.

Like what @cplay mentioned, if they are not kind enough to do my request in exchange for something that's useful for them, I don't see a reason why I should spend my bandwidth and other resources for them, too.

By the way, that "adblocking" thing is turned off for my premium clients (the one who are logged in to their account).

 

[rafark]

According to a post on pagefair, 615 million devices now use adblock so if you block users of adblock you are missing out on a significant amount of traffic.
some more facts from it

The thing is, strictly speaking, why would he want visitors that'll never convert? That and not having them is the same, they'll never click on ads and thus you're gaining nothing from their visit. What's worse, they're using the server's precious bandwidth for free... They better go waste other people's servers...

 

[rafark]

Regarding SEO, technically it shouldn't affect because Google's boot doesn't "have adblock", it might have an impact in bounce rate which is said to affect positions.