Millions of searches go through the Google search engine every day. With all the information available on the web, finding what we need is possible with the Google search index. It uses a series of algorithms to organize billions of web pages and present you with the most relevant and valuable information in just fraction of seconds.
To ensure that it provides the users with the best resources, Google considers over 200 ranking factors such as backlinks, keywords, relevance to the search query, AMP, overall website appearance etc.
A new algorithm change to include a factor called page experience is all set to be launched by Google in 2021 to measure the usability of a website in terms of users’ perspectives. So, let us learn what is Google’s page experience update and how it can influence your page rankings?
Going forward the page experience metrics will be used as a significant ranking factor while ranking web pages. A page experience is defined as a set of signals that measures how users comprehend the experience of interacting with a web page. A page experience update is an algorithm update used to optimize the website’s page experience and make the site more delightful for users across all web browsers. So, is your website ready for this latest algorithm update? Check out how you can turn it to your advantage.
Page experience is measured using the Core web vitals. So, what are core web vitals, and how do they work? Core web vitals are a series of elements that measure and enhance user experience based on interactivity, loading performance, and visual stability of the page. While user experience has always been an important ranking factor, page experience all unto its own will become a new SEO ranking factor and a crucial component that determines a website’s value and worth. It includes existing search signals like safe-browsing, mobile-friendliness, HTTPS, and no intrusive interstitials. The new update also includes three additional criteria:
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): It measures loading speed and performance. The ideal page loading time for a good user experience is 2.5 seconds or less.
First Input Delay (FID): It measures the interactivity of a web page. A site with an FID of 100 milliseconds or less is considered ideal.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): It measures a site’s visual stability. For a good user experience, a CLS score of less than 0.1 is optimal.
To quickly diagnose and optimize the users’ page experience with core web vitals, Google has different tools like Lighthouse, Chrome UX report that support measurement of core web vitals (CWV). An overall CWV score of above 90 means your website’s page experience quality is good. If your website’s CWV score ranges from 50-89, then you need to take a closer look at what needs to be improved. However, if the CWV score ranges from 0-49, then it is a red flag that the website will be affected negatively by the page experience update.
CONCLUSION
The recently announced page experience update with core web vitals contributes to quality signals essential to deliver a quality website with a great user experience. Fluctuations in these signals can directly impact your website’s SEO performance and traffic flow. So for a website to achieve high rankings, it’s vital to track algorithm updates and adapt appropriately. However, even if the page experience is good, it can’t outweigh relevant and quality page content.
To watch the latest Google SEO Office Hours, please check out the video below:
Durga
About The Author…
Durga has a master’s degree in engineering. Technological advances in digital space interest her a lot. Digital marketing is her forte and she passionately follows latest trends in the digital marketing space. She has written many trending articles on various social media platforms. Her areas of interest include SEO Optimization, structured data, SMM, Keywords research and analysis etc. She is focused, resourceful and dedicated.