If you monetize your website through affiliate links or display ads, this is critical:
the ratio of informational to commercial content can significantly impact your rankings.
This became especially apparent during major Google core updates —
particularly the one in December 2020, and more recently during review-focused updates.
During these algorithm shifts, many affiliate-heavy websites saw dramatic traffic losses.
What separated the winners from the losers?
Sites that maintained a higher proportion of helpful, non-promotional content tended to perform better.
Meanwhile, those that leaned too heavily on commercial or monetized articles were hit the hardest.
So what’s the ideal ratio?
It depends on the niche:
- Coupon sites can often get away with up to 90% commercial content.
- But for more sensitive or authoritative niches — like automotive, finance, or health —
you may need to keep monetized content closer to 20–30% of your total output.
To build long-term organic traffic:
- Focus on publishing genuinely helpful content that serves the reader without a sales angle.
- Use commercial content strategically — once trust and topical depth are established.
- Regularly audit your content mix to ensure the balance still aligns with what Google wants.
If you monetize your website through affiliate links or display ads, this is critical:
the ratio of informational to commercial content can significantly impact your rankings.
This became especially apparent during major Google core updates —
particularly the one in December 2020, and more recently during review-focused updates.
During these algorithm shifts, many affiliate-heavy websites saw dramatic traffic losses.
What separated the winners from the losers?
Sites that maintained a higher proportion of helpful, non-promotional content tended to perform better.
Meanwhile, those that leaned too heavily on commercial or monetized articles were hit the hardest.
So what’s the ideal ratio?
It depends on the niche:
- Coupon sites can often get away with up to 90% commercial content.
- But for more sensitive or authoritative niches — like automotive, finance, or health —
you may need to keep monetized content closer to 20–30% of your total output.
To build long-term organic traffic:
- Focus on publishing genuinely helpful content that serves the reader without a sales angle.
- Use commercial content strategically — once trust and topical depth are established.
- Regularly audit your content mix to ensure the balance still aligns with what Google wants.
