A client once asked us if their ads were “living at the top of Google or just visiting on weekends.”
Fair question!
At StandOut Marketing, we hear it every week, and Google gives two simple readouts that answer it.
Impr. Top percent is the share of your ad impressions that showed above the organic results anywhere in the top block.
Impr. Absolute Top percent is the share that showed as the very first ad on the page.
Think of Top percent as overall marquee visibility and Absolute Top percent as front row center. If you divide Absolute Top percent by Top percent you get a rough sense of how often your top placements were actually number one.
What these numbers usually tell us in plain English
• High Top percent but much lower Absolute Top percent means you are often above organic but not usually first
• Low Top percent means your ads are frequently below organic results
• Very high Absolute Top percent can mean you are paying a premium for the spotlight
Now for the part no one loves but everyone appreciates
In many markets competitors are simply bidding more. To climb the page you need stronger Ad Rank, and that often starts with spending more.
We recommend raising budgets first where campaigns already convert well and are limited by budget, then letting bidding be a little more assertive so you can win the first spot when it is profitable.
We will keep sharpening relevance in ads and on the landing page so every extra dollar works harder. Think of it like better seats and better acoustics.
How you will know it is working
• Impr. Top percent and Impr. Absolute Top percent rise
• Search top impression share and Search absolute top impression share rise
• CPA and ROAS stay within your targets as spend increases
Our promise
We are careful stewards. We will model the cost to move up, protect efficiency, and only recommend budget lifts where the math is in your favor. If the top is worth it for your goals, we will help you get there without turning the volume up just for show.
