Google Dropped the First Select Free Policy on Paid Content

This article examines Google Dropped the First Select Free Policy on Paid Content. It presents the main facts, practical implications, and key points in a clearer, easier-to-follow format.

Understanding Google Dropped the First Select Free Policy on Paid Content

When searching on Google, users inevitably encounter pages that require login to continue viewing the content. Until now, Google forced publishers to access a free page to get a high ranking on search results. This is the First select Free policy and to help bring traffic to sites is not always free.

Websites that use a subscription model to make money from websites have never liked Google's policies because it allows anyone to view up to 3 free articles per day without having to sign up for a premium account. To improve the relationship with them, Google replaced First select Free with Flexible Sampling.

Wall of charge is a way for sites to make money from readers.

This new program allows website owners to choose the number of pages that users can view after accessing Google Search's search results page, from immediately paying for free to completely free. Flexible Sampling also allows content creators to limit the number of monthly views instead of daily. Google suggests reading 10 free articles a month before requesting a premium account.

The New York Times and Financial Times are two of the largest paid subscription models commonly found on Google's search page. After expressing dissatisfaction with First select Free, the Financial Times made a positive comment on new changes: 'Financial Times welcomed Google's change to help this important branch of the media industry'.