Google Ads Update: Misleading Landing Pages Now Demoted via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

Google has updated its search ads system to prioritize relevant and easy-to-use landing pages.

Using an AI-driven model, Google now checks whether the page a user lands on after clicking an ad offers an experience that matches their expectations.

What’s New?

AI-Driven Check

A new AI model evaluates whether a landing page offers a customer-friendly experience that matches the ad’s promise.

Google states:

“… we recently developed a new prediction model that helps our ads quality systems more precisely capture the quality of your navigation experience when visiting a Search ad’s landing page. We’ve improved our ability to understand and predict if a Search ad leads to an unexpected destination and doesn’t offer other helpful navigation options.”

Misleading Landing Pages Demoted

Ads that lead to misleading pages (for example, showing promotions instead of a promised login or reset page) will be demoted in search results.

Google states:

“It can be frustrating to click on a Search ad and land on a page that doesn’t match what you were looking for and is hard to use. This means landing pages must be both relevant and easy to navigate.”

Why It Matters

Google explicitly states:

“We’re now able to show you fewer ads like this, reducing these types of negative experiences for people searching on Google.”

To ensure Google continues serving your ads, it’s paramount that landing pages meet user expectations.

What To Do Next

• Audit Your Pages: Make sure your landing page content matches your ad copy.
• Simplify Navigation: Streamline menus and CTAs so visitors can easily navigate the site.
• Go Mobile-First: With mobile-first indexing in mind, ensure your pages load well and are easy to navigate on mobile devices.

Broader Market Context

Recent industry data highlights that:

• Digital ad costs are climbing while conversion rates drop.
• User frustrations are reducing engagement.
• Landing pages focused solely on transactions, like product detail pages, are linked with higher bounce rates.

These findings support Google’s move. Clear, navigable landing pages can help reduce wasted ad spending and improve overall conversion rates.

Looking Ahead

Google’s update is a clear signal that a landing page should work as hard as your ad.

Optimizing for easy navigation creates a better experience and helps improve ad performance in a competitive market.

Featured Image: Tada Images/Shutterstock

SEJ STAFF Matt G. Southern Senior News Writer at Search Engine Journal

Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, ...