×
April 2, 2019

Average Position is being killed off.

Gary goes to great lengths to explain why this is a good thing.

These blogs have so far looked at different aspects of the world of search. This month we will be taking a closer look at one the old boys from the world of Google Ads, Average Position and saying goodbye forever now that Google has officially announced the removal of this key metric from the system.

It was announced in March 2019 that Google will no longer be providing the Average Position metric.  From September 2019 onwards our accounts and your reports will be forever changed as we move towards two new base metrics that will be taking its place. ‘Search Top Impression Share’ and ‘Search Absolute Top Impression Share’.

This is a bit of an upset for the industry and will change the way we report, but it is not without precedent. Google has over the years removed and added new metrics at will and we have had to roll with it. (Organic search terms in Google Analytics anyone?)

This major change has been brought about after three years of significant changes to the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). Since early 2016 average position has become less and less relevant and less defined in its meaning.

Once upon a time AVG POS 1 on search meant ranking on the very top of the page. Sitting neatly above two other ads with a whole mess of organic rankings below it – and with a neat row of smaller ads running down the right-hand side:

 

This changed forever when Google moved the ads away from the right-hand side and stacked four larger than ever ads right at the top of the page to push the Organic rankings down even further.

A quick search online shows just how dramatic this can be with the term “pipe relining” where there are NO organic rankings showing above the fold!

 

The Modern SERP

 With all that (and more) in mind why does this mean that Average Position is now somehow less relevant than it used to be?

The answer is actually quite simple; What used to work for Google AdWords doesn’t quite work for Google Ads.

The SERP has changed so much over the years (and let’s not forget mobile here) that the metrics that had value way back in the digital dark age of 2006 are simply not relevant any more.

A dramatic example of the need for the change in reporting is that position 1 no longer means that the ad is at the very top of the page. Instead position 1 simply means that your ad is above the other ads, even if the ad block is at the bottom of the page under the organic ranked listings. While this is still fairly uncommon, we have all seen it, and we have most definitely all experienced it

A position ranking of 1 has value, but only when we know what it means. With the changes to the modern SERP, we as marketing managers simply cannot be confident what AVG POS 1 really means anymore.

 

The way forward.

The new metrics that replace Average Position are: 

  • Search Top Impression Share
  • Search Absolute Top Impression Share

Direct Clicks have long been reporting with these metrics for our clients who would benefit from the data, for everyone else we will are rolling it out slowly over the coming months, but what is it?

Search Top Impression Share looks at the times an ad appears in the top four paid positions (regardless of position) and calculates it as a percentage.

Search Absolute Top Impression Share looks at the times an ad appears in what we would traditionally call position 1.

This means that more often than not you will be confronted with data like this:

 

But why is this valuable?

Taking the above sample, if an Account Manager (Yours Truly) only had access to the impression share and the average position, I might believe that my ads are sitting happily at the top of Google around 20% of the time. But with these added and more powerful metrics I actually know that my ads are only at the very top 14% of the time and that for the rest of my searches my ads fall off the edge of the digital cliff. So, to speak.

Scale this out to some of our larger + $250,000 per month accounts and a dropped 6% of traffic represents significant losses!

 

What do you need to do?

 Simply be aware of the changes.

if you are using the newer metrics already, hats off to you. If you are not then simply try adding the columns and start working with the new data. If you are more comfortable sticking with Average Position and Impression Share for now then continue to do so – but remember the historic crutch that is Average Position will be lost forever from September.

 

The clock is ticking.

 

For a follow up please contact Gary Devine directly at gary@directclicks.com.au to learn how these changes may affect you.

Gary Devine

Head of Search

I’ve worked in Advertising & Digital since I graduated from university in 2010. I spent 2 and half years working for Google in the UK where I fell in love with digital and creative work. I now run a great team here in Sydney doing great work.

See All Posts

Contact Us

Google Rating
4.9
David Kamel
David Kamel
07:49 20 Oct 24
Direct Clicks have been outstanding, they go above and beyond their role to ensure they provide the best service possible. We have seen great success by having them on board pushing marketing for our business to greater heights. A big thank you to both Amir and Eva for their relentless approach to best outcome and success. A big thank you to Eva Li who has been an amazing SEM Manager since day one. Thank you for all you have done and allowing our childcare centre to achieve excellent results and conversions.
Monica Morgan
Monica Morgan
23:57 14 Oct 24
We couldn't be happier with the support we've received from Direct Clicks. As a childcare service with multiple locations, our focus is on building trust with families, and Direct Clicks has been instrumental in helping us communicate our values and services effectively. They created a tailored marketing strategy that brought in a noticeable increase in inquiries and enrollments. Their team is knowledgeable, creative, and always quick to respond. They took the time to understand our unique needs and helped us stand out in a competitive market. The results speak for themselves, and we highly recommend Direct Clicks to any business looking for innovative and impactful marketing solutions. Amir who partners with our brand is incredible and a visionary!!
Sarina Harb
Sarina Harb
23:53 14 Oct 24
Working with Amir from Direct Clicks has been a game-changer for our childcare centre. From the very start, their team took the time to understand our values and goals, tailoring a marketing strategy that truly reflects our mission and vision. They've helped us significantly increase our online presence, driving more inquiries and enrollments than we ever anticipated. Their professionalism, creativity, and responsiveness have been top-notch. Whether it was revamping our website, managing our social media, or crafting engaging ads, they went above and beyond to ensure every campaign was a success. We’re thrilled with the results and highly recommend Direcr Clicks to any business looking to take their marketing efforts to the next level!
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson
22:56 09 Sep 24
I have been working with Direct Clicks as my digital marketing agency for the past 7 years, managing much of digital needs for our two resorts based in Fiji. Direct Clicks are nothing short of professional, prompt and innovative in their approach and this is reflected in the long-term relationship we hold. As Area Director of Sales and Marketing, I would highly recommend their services and would be happy to chat further if required.
francois david
francois david
04:20 09 Sep 24
Amir is a marketing genius who adopts a multi faceted approach to each and every project and customer. Our leads with Direct Clicks increased significantly. Highly recommend for all you business marketing needs.
Washco Pty ltd
Washco Pty ltd
04:26 08 Aug 24
I Just want to thank Amir and his team. Amir did a great work for my business he helped to grow my business with his strong strategy. I have previously used many other agencies but didn’t got good result and everyone say we do this and we do that but never worked well for me but Amir did amazing work. Highly recommend Direct click To whom looking for serious promise thanks again from Amir and his team for his honesty and kindness.
Stacy Brewer
Stacy Brewer
06:49 19 Jun 24
Graham from Direct Clicks has gone far beyond my expectations for his services. The team has created a website that not only looks incredible, but has been easy to use. Graham has been there every step of the way to guide me through what normally would have been an incredibly daunting experience. The website was finished a year ago, but he has been so incredibly helpful with my questions even after the website has gone live. Can't recommend Direct Clicks enough. Thanks so much Graham and team!
Nick Bolin
Nick Bolin
19:26 17 May 24
I have been using Direct Clicks for almost a year now and am very happy with the results. Been working with Buck Boltcher he is always prompt on following up with me and walking me through the results. Couldn't recommend them enough.
marcussteien
marcussteien
16:28 08 Nov 23
We are absolutely amazed at the high quality service that we receive from our representative Steve. He is very knowledgeable, trustworthy and honest. Thank you for your exceptional service!
Mark West
Mark West
08:27 29 Oct 23
We engaged Direct Clicks to build our website and for SEO and google ads. The website build is beautiful, and we're getting more traffic than we ever have before from google! The team are so responsive and genuinly feel like a partner.
Z Recruitment
Z Recruitment
02:28 04 Jul 23
We have been collaborating with Direct Clicks ever since we launched our business, and the level of support provided by Amir has been incredible. We couldn't be happier with their hard work and marketing assistance. Thank you for all your efforts!
Zotti Cafe & Restaurant
Zotti Cafe & Restaurant
22:46 15 Jan 23
We have dealt with many agencies for many years and this one is by far one of the best and specially Amir that was handling our account was always on top 🙏 highly recommended
Tim O'Neil-Shaw
Tim O'Neil-Shaw
04:13 13 Dec 22
My company Atlas Copco have worked with Gary and the team from direct clicks for over 5 years now. The AdWords campaigns they manage and run for us have been outstanding and exceed our expectations month on month. It's great to find and work with a company with such passion and pride in their work! Thanks Gary and the team!
Charles Kurth
Charles Kurth
04:59 23 Nov 22
Direct Clicks have been a pleasure to work with. Gary has set us up for success over the past couple of years. Appreciate all the hard work team. Thanking you kindly
John Tsikoonis
John Tsikoonis
02:30 23 Nov 22
Seen really good results since joining these guys to run Google Ads and SEO for my business. Highly recommend. Thanks team!
Centre Court Dental Bankstown
Centre Court Dental Bankstown
02:26 10 May 22
Amir and his team at Direct clicks have been so helpful with our Google Business page. He has been able to provide us with accurate SEO and AdWords to cater to our practice and increase our ranking in Google searches. We had someone else who had been providing this service to us and Amir's team has well and truly toped the efforts their efforts. Keep up the good work guys!
garaldine deeper
garaldine deeper
02:22 09 Feb 22
We have recently been working on a strategy project with the team and are very happy with their dedication and ingenuity.
Wilson Gomes
Wilson Gomes
02:18 17 Dec 21
Direct Clicks are as professional and quick as one can get. It has been an amazing experience collaborating with Amir & Claire. They are super responsive and pay attentive detail to client requests with top notch quality service and provide fantastic and promising results. Such an amazing team! Would highly recommend!
Little Zak's
Little Zak's
05:35 12 Nov 21
It's a pleasure to give Direct Clicks a 5-star review. The service we have received from Amir, Eva and the team is first class. Projects are always delivered on time and to a high standard. Little Zak's is appreciative that the team takes the time to understand the problem at hand and actively part takes in finding a resolution. Best of all, DC will deliver results. Thanks to the teams efforts, the Little Zak's brand continues to grow from strength to strength. Please do not hesitate to consider Direct Clicks for your business needs. They won't disappoint.
Maddie Gibbons
Maddie Gibbons
03:00 12 Nov 21
These guys are legends! We've worked closely with Amir and Graham over the years and they're always professional, meticulous and thorough. Would highly recommend to anyone seeking a digital marketing partner you can trust. Maddie
Justin Fischer
Justin Fischer
02:52 12 Nov 21
These guys are the best in the business. Anything we need, whether it's SEOíng, website building, knowledge of eCommerce, they get it done. Have used them for years and have never let me down.
matthew saade
matthew saade
06:11 06 Sep 21
We been working alongside Amir and the team at direct clicks for over 2 years now.. I have referred many people to work with them.. their work is outstanding, transparent, and excellent at helping you understand marketing and advertising! I highly recommend the team at directclicks for all your digital marketing needs!
Ellen Nesteroff
Ellen Nesteroff
03:57 08 Jun 21
Our company, PanVest Property is a new business who came to Direct Clicks at the very beginning with a vision and some ideas. We needed a logo and branding, a website, a social media presence, an SEO strategy and advertising. Direct Clicks led us through every stage of the process and the team have been friendly, professional, and quick to respond. We have just gone live across all platforms and the result has been multiple leads in the very first week! Highly recommend.
Tiaan Bennett
Tiaan Bennett
03:34 11 May 21
Really awesome team and great work!! I started with nothing and now I very frequently get calls generated from my website. They're great, honest, helpful and go above and beyond. I have already recommended these guys to friends who are also very happy with their service:)
Caitlyn Ellender
Caitlyn Ellender
06:18 06 May 21
Graham and the team are life savers. They are really great at communicating and knowing exactly what you're after in a website. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a great website design and support! 10/10
Paul Attard
Paul Attard
01:09 30 Apr 21
The team at direct clicks have been very helpful. They will take the time to find out about your business and the goals you want to achieve. As we have just started working together, the first step of our marketing strategy was to build a new website for my business. I’m happy with its quality; they actually listened to what I wanted to get out of the website. They are very responsive in replying to e-mails and have been quick to make any changes to the site. I would recommend Direct Clicks to others.
Esspada
Esspada
00:31 11 Feb 21
Overall, my interaction and experience with Direct Clicks has been very fluid and enjoyable. The staff at direct clicks were very helpful in assisting us in designing our website, and were patient with the plethora of amendments and changes that we made over the course of our website design. Sometimes it took a little while for the changes to be made, however, nothing that was unreasonably problematic. I will be recommending them to any of my friends or associates who need online marketing or a website designed for them. Very happy.
Melissa Stornelli
Melissa Stornelli
02:17 28 Oct 20
Laura from Direct Clicks helped us create our wedding website. Her professionalism, responsiveness and attention to detail cannot be faulted. From the moment we contacted Paul from Direct Clicks, our journey through this process was flawless! We highly recommend the team! Thank you to Laura and Paul again!
Christeen Seidhom
Christeen Seidhom
07:39 01 Sep 20
Very fast, response to our emails with minutes, get the job done 100%.
Big Bus co
Big Bus co
11:54 25 Aug 20
We have been looking for many years for a good company that can handle our Google Adwords and website handling and finally found Direct Clicks. We can't be happier with their service and quick response as well as professionalism. We highly recommend Direct Clicks if you would like to get your website up and running quickly.
Armani Gallery
Armani Gallery
00:51 10 Aug 20
Direct Clicks are as professional and quick as one can get. They are easy to deal with and are always friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Bianca & Amir for always being responsive, efficient and most of all patient with our constant requests and changes. Such an amazing team! Would highly recommend Direct clicks to anyone who is looking to enhance their business and bring it to life.
Paul Nicholson
Paul Nicholson
00:00 06 Aug 20
The team at Direct Clicks have been managing my website and online marketing for nearly 10 years. They have always been attentive and fast with any of my needs I would highly recommend their services.
richard lowry
richard lowry
03:08 21 Jul 20
Amir has been most helpful through the years and business has improved tremendously since I brought Amir and Direct Clicks on board.
Noreena Mijic
Noreena Mijic
00:31 07 Jul 20
Its been just a little over 12 years now that I have been using Direct Clicks as my wed designer and host. I truly believe that their ideas and advise for my website has been a major key to the growth and success of Cushions R Us Sydney. I have been working closely with Senior Content Manager, Graham Cattley who knows exactly how to project my ideas into words and images that addresses the audience accordingly. I have found Direct Clicks very responsive and reliable in withholding the design intent of the website, and continually being in touch with fresh changes and upgrades. I highly recommend direct clicks to anyone looking for a provider who's customer service is second to none. Thank you for all your hard work Graham and the Team and Direct Clicks. Noreena Mijic Director CUSHIONS R US SYDNEY
leila diab
leila diab
00:16 17 Jun 20
Direct Clicks and in particular Bianca Cipri are an amazing advertising agency to work with. Bianca; our marketing coordinator, is always professional, dedicated and responsive to all campaigns from start to finish. I highly recommend you check Direct Clicks if you feel your business marketing is looking tired or needs to reinvent itself and requires that extra push!
Berge Okosdinossian
Berge Okosdinossian
10:27 24 May 20
Excellent team and particularly our account manager, Bianca Cipri. She is highly attentive and responsive, turning things around in a timely manner, but more importantly, executing on our particular requirements. Highly recommend.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
23:31 22 Apr 20
Very flexible, very attentive. Great media buying strategy. Happy to go above and beyond to get a campaign running well.
Tony Collins
Tony Collins
02:44 02 Apr 20
Once again had another request for the Team at Direct clicks to make a few changes with our web page and Once again was very impressed with their work. Thank you to all at Direct Click especially Graham (Always helpful)
Hannah Tansey
Hannah Tansey
22:09 24 Feb 20
The Direct Clicks team are SO helpful and friendly. No task is ever too much! Amir is extremely efficient and always patient no matter how many requests i have!
Mikarla Bauer
Mikarla Bauer
03:10 10 Nov 19
Direct Clicks have been an amazing company to deal with. i approached them last year to do my web design and SEO and the results and service have been first class. We have doubled our bookings over the last 12 months and significantly grown the business. I have been recommending their services to everyone!!
Jared Roomer
Jared Roomer
22:38 17 Sep 19
Direct Clicks are real professionals. They take the time to really understand their customer and the industry. Very happy with their friendly and efficient service too.
Tony Collins
Tony Collins
04:57 06 Sep 19
Thank you again Graham. Looks great. Job well done again. Please pass on to all a thank you. It is never a problem when I ask for help with our web page. I have already recommended you to others.
Georgette Chaoul
Georgette Chaoul
10:14 29 Aug 19
Great service and very communicative account managers. Creative
George Winners
George Winners
10:57 28 Aug 19
Direct Clicks is one of the best digital agencies i have dealt with for marketing my business, very professional and knowledgeable.
Albert Dorostkar
Albert Dorostkar
03:13 05 Aug 19
i"m very happy with the level of service i received from Eva Li and the team at Direct clicks.Highly recommend the team from Direct Clicks. They have always been fast and efficient with their service. Thanks Eva Li
Khal
Khal
06:22 27 Jul 19
Amir has been such a great help! What an amazing team! Been with them for years and have only had gains and lots of insight into business marketing! Thanks Amir and Ben you guys are life savers!
Graham Peters
Graham Peters
03:44 12 Jun 19
There are many companies around that offer similar services. What I like about Direct Clicks is that they really understand the important roll their work plays in the success of the businesses they serve. Additionally, and importantly, they take responsibility for their work and the associated outcomes.
Olga M
Olga M
00:41 14 May 19
Professional and quick response. Gary, my campaign manager, has added value to my business with his suggestions and monthly reports.
Sophie Farrar
Sophie Farrar
01:00 30 Apr 19
We have worked with Direct clicks for a while now and I am always impressed with the wonderful service from Gary Devine. Highly recommend.
Alen Barsamian
Alen Barsamian
08:24 27 Apr 19
Easy to deal with and very knowledgeable, have seen positive results and more clients since signing up with them, Thank you team!
Sandra Checch
Sandra Checch
22:37 14 Apr 19
Great team to work with esp Helen. Always friendly and helpful
Ben Hindle
Ben Hindle
03:43 04 Apr 19
Just recently started doing business with DirectClicks and have been impressed with the service, knowledge and attention to detail of Gary.
Brett Ketelaar
Brett Ketelaar
23:48 13 Mar 19
Highly recommend Direct Clicks. Great web design and fresh ideas
Live2ride Team
Live2ride Team
02:31 05 Feb 19
We are extremely satisfied with the results Graham and the team at DirectClicks delivered for our website. Migrating a website from a previous provider is not always an easy task, but Graham was able to guide us step by step, explaining our options in detail, as well as giving us an easy to follow tutorial on how to use WordPress. I would highly recommend DirectClicks to anyone seeking assistance in creating a new website. Great company, excellent service and support!
KEYless Entry Systems
KEYless Entry Systems
23:50 28 Jan 19
After trying numerous agencies ( Sponsored links and Reach Local), Direct Clicks were recommended to me. The difference was amazing. I can actually talk to someone and the support I have received from both the Adwords and SEO teams has been first-class. Highly recommend.
Elaine Huang
Elaine Huang
00:31 12 Dec 18
Outstanding customer service experience working with Amir at Direct Clicks
Levi de Bilde
Levi de Bilde
01:12 04 Dec 18
Long time customer of +4 years and still going. Direct Clicks offer great support, advice and a seamless service. Thank you !!
Unscripted Signs Sales
Unscripted Signs Sales
09:16 09 Aug 18
Great company and great staff who delivered excellent results! We will continue to work with them....
Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas
02:29 02 Jul 18
I can thoroughly recommend Direct Clicks. They are very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Gary really knows his stuff and it is a pleasure to work with him. We also worked with Ben and Amir and together they were a great team. Mike Thomas
Katryna Tancred
Katryna Tancred
04:08 25 May 18
We were hesitant to change from managing our own ads to paying a fee but we couldn't be happier with switching to Direct Clicks. Our viewers are more engaged and we're converting more leads. They spoke our language and made sure we understood the options we had. The after sale service cannot be faulted. Highly recommended
Keith Betty
Keith Betty
23:25 13 May 18
We engaged Direct Clicks to re-design and upgrade our existing website - which involved layout, structure, underlying tech, transfer of existing domains and ongoing hosting. We found both the sales as well as the delivery processes to be '5 star' and would recommend them without hesitation.
Saul Gerber
Saul Gerber
03:36 31 Jan 18
I had a very successful experience with this company. Gilad Shabab was my contact and he was extremely helpful. My psychology practice built up well and is now self sustaining. I would not hesitate to recommend to friends. Thank you Direct Clicks
Michele Miller
Michele Miller
05:52 25 Oct 17
We asked Direct Clicks to build a website for Robokids, we wanted to ensure they understood our brand and market. Highly recommend Direct Clicks, the service and communication are fabulous. Graham was just terrific.
Amir Reyad
Amir Reyad
02:44 25 Sep 17
Gilard is my campaign manager, he has done a remarkable job for my antenna business. At first I was hesitant but I now say I have full trust is these guys. My business has never been healthier. They have really proved them selves. I referred a friend which manages a solar business and within weeks he’s advised me that their doing a great job! Thanks Gilad and Ben for your hard work. I’m glad for you guys to be part of our business
Brad Lawson
Brad Lawson
03:10 13 Sep 17
Solid company with great staff, always very responsive. Anything we do with Direct Clicks is thoroughly explained and we're always kept in the loop. It's been nearly 2 years and we haven't looked back since going with Direct Clicks for our online marketing.
Christopher Cassidy
Christopher Cassidy
08:53 11 Aug 17
Graham did an excellent job bringing the vision of my website to life. He explained things well, was easily contactable and very responsive. Highly recommended! Thanks again
Juliana Lalli
Juliana Lalli
13:07 10 Aug 17
Professional and service driven. We changed our minds so many times and the team were very accommodating and patient. From pre sales to completion, they were fantastic. Highly recommend Direct Clicks and will be certainly using them in the future.
See All Reviews Write a review
DC Review