Don't Lazy-Load Your First Ad (Common Mistake)

Don't Lazy-Load Your First Ad (Common Mistake)

A review of a thing NOT to install: blanket lazy-loading that includes the above-fold unit. People bolt on a lazy-load plugin and let it govern every slot.

What it does — defers ALL ad requests until near-viewport, including the one already in view.
Setup effort (1/5) to break, 1/5 to fix — exclude the first slot from the lazy set.
RPM lift seen — excluding the top unit from lazy-load recovered +7-10% top-unit RPM; lazy-loading it had delayed an already-visible ad for no benefit.

Pros (of the fix) — top unit fires immediately, fills the most valuable real estate.
Cons — none worth noting; this is strictly an anti-pattern correction.

Lift: ★★★★☆ — Risk: ★☆☆☆☆
Best for: anyone who installed a one-click lazy plugin. Skip the worry only if your top ad is genuinely below fold.