What is "Average Position" in Google Ads?

This article will explain the definition of "Average Position" in Google Ads.

*Note: Google will be removing Average Position from Google Ads and will be replacing it with top and absolute top impressions.

Average Position

Average Position (Avg. Pos.) is the placement of your advertisement compared to other advertisements. This placement determines the order that the ad shows up on the page. 

  • According to Google Ads, the highest number is 1, and there is no lowest. There are eight numbers on each page (1-8 on page 1, 9-16 on page 2, and so on).
  • The ad's position may be moved due to ranking changes.
    • Ad position is based on your ad's current ranking. This position is determined by your bid and the relevance of your website to the keywords. 
    • Your ad position does not exactly mean that your position of "1" is at the top of the search results page.
      • This could mean that there are no ads that are above yours in the search results, and your ad is the first that is shown beneath the organic search. 
      • If your advertisement is ranked at "2," then this could mean that it is the first result under the search results (if the advertisement ranked "1" is above the organic results) or the second position below the search results (if the ad ranked "1" is the first position below the search results. 
  • The advertisement's position could also be a number such as 1.7, which is a position between 1 or 2. 

How is the ad position determined?

Google has an ad auction to determine the advertisement's visibility and placement. 

  • Ad Rank is used to calculate and determine your ad's position and eligibility to be shown on their search results page.

Ad Rank has five components:

  1. Bid: This is the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a click on your advertisement. 
  2. The quality of your ads and landing pages: Are both your ad and website relevant and useful to users visiting your page? Google Ads assesses your ad and provides you with a Quality Score.
    • With the Quality Score, you can work on improving your advertisement and keep an eye on your advertisements.
  3. The Ad Rank thresholds: Google Ads sets minimum thresholds for advertisements. This is also considered the reserve price for your advertisement. Your advertisement must meet this threshold to be shown.
  4. The context of a person's search: Google calculates Ad Rank by looking at the search terms that people enter, their location, device, time of the search, nature of search terms, other ads and search results that show on the page, and other signals and attributes. 
  5. The expected impact from your ad extensions and other ad formats: Ad extensions are additional information that is added to your advertisement (phone number, links to specific pages, etc.). Google Ads determines how these extensions and other ad formats will affect your ad's performance.

Absolute Top and Top Impressions

With the new changes to Google Ads, average position will be removed and be replaced with absolute top and top impressions. 

Information obtained from Google Ads

Last Updated: Jan 27, 2020 10:09 AM