INTRUSIVE INTERSTITIALS

page experience: 

What are intrusive interstitials? 

Intrusive interstitials are web elements that obstruct the user's view of the desired content, usually for promotional purposes. These overlays appear on top of the page content, often covering most or all of it, and can be triggered in various ways:

• Immediately upon entering the page: As soon as the user lands on the page, the interstitial pops up before they can access any content.

• After a certain amount of time: The interstitial appears after the user has spent a set amount of time on the page.

• Upon scrolling to a specific point: The interstitial appears when the user scrolls down to a certain section of the page.

• Triggered by an action: The interstitial pops up when the user clicks on a specific element or performs a specific action on the page.

Here are some characteristics of intrusive interstitials:

• Occupy a significant portion of the screen: They cover most or all of the page content, making it difficult or impossible for the user to see what they came for.

• Are not responsive: They don't adjust to different screen sizes, leading to a poor experience on mobile devices.

• Display without user interaction: They appear automatically, without the user's consent or prompting, interrupting their browsing experience.

• Are difficult to close: They may not have a clear close button or require multiple clicks to dismiss, further frustrating the user.

Why are they considered bad?

Intrusive interstitials are detrimental to both user experience and website performance. They:

• Frustrate users: They interrupt the user's flow and make it difficult to access the content they're looking for. This can lead to high bounce rates and lost conversions.

• Negatively impact SEO: Google penalizes websites that use intrusive interstitials, leading to lower rankings in search results.

• Prevent Google from indexing content: If the interstitial covers the main content of the page, Google may not be able to properly crawl and index it, further impacting SEO.

• Make the website look unprofessional: Intrusive interstitials can give the impression that the website is untrustworthy or spammy.

Alternatives to intrusive interstitials:

Instead of using intrusive interstitials, consider these alternatives:

• Pop-up banners: These banners take up less space and can be displayed in a less disruptive way, like at the top or bottom of the page.

• Lightboxes: These overlays dim the background content and focus attention on a specific message or offer.

• Slide-in panels: These panels slide in from the side of the screen and are less obtrusive than full-page overlays.

• Smart interstitials: These interstitials only appear to users who haven't visited the website before or who haven't taken a specific action.

It's crucial to prioritize user experience and provide a smooth and enjoyable browsing experience. By avoiding intrusive interstitials and opting for less disruptive alternatives, you can ensure that users have a positive experience on your website and are more likely to return.