Google Page Experience / Core Web Vitals Algorithm Update June 2021

Google announced that it would launch a new search algorithm update in May 2021 to include a new ranking factor called Page Experience. Google Page Experience is said to be a vital element that would have a significant effect on search rankings. In preparation for the slated algorithm update, the search giant introduced Core Web Vitals, which is a series of benchmarks that can help site owners measure and improve web user experience. 

However, just recently, Google announced that the update would be postponed until mid-June this year. Also, its full impact won’t be felt until the end of August. This gives webmasters and site owners more time to prepare their websites for the latest Google update. 

What is Page Experience?

So what exactly is page experience? And why should you care? 

As the name implies, page experience refers to how users interact with a web page and how good (or bad) the experience was. It involves existing search ranking factors, such as mobile-friendliness, HTTPS security, and safe browsing. It also includes the Core Web Vitals, which focus on: 

• Loading – the perceived loading speed of web pages.
• Interactivity – the time from when a web visitor first uses the page to the time when the browser starts processing the interaction.
• Visual stability – how stable the page elements are as the web page loads. 

Why Should You Prepare for Page Experience?

As with other previous Google algorithm updates, it’s vital to pay attention and prepare for page experience if you don’t want your site to get left behind. 

1. Visual cues

Once the update takes effect, the search giant will provide web users and browsers with visual cues to indicate how user-friendly a webpage is. If your user experience is top-notch, your page will get more priority over the others.

2. Avoid a drop in traffic

In their previous announcement, Google pointed out how big the upcoming algorithm will be since an excellent page experience makes for better engagement and enables web users to get more things done. This is why many experts agree that web pages that fail Google page experience benchmarks are likely to receive lower search rankings and experience a significant drop in web traffic. 

What You Need to Consider

When improving your site’s page experience, you need to consider the following factors: 

1. Page loading speed

As you may know, dealing with slow page loading speeds can be very frustrating, so imagine what your visitors would feel like if they are forced to wait a long time after clicking on your link. Also, the longer your visitors are forced to wait for your pages to load, the more likely they are to leave and go somewhere else. 

2. Web structure and design

Even if your website has a fast loading speed, it won’t do you any good if it has poor structure and design. Visitors will have difficulty finding the information they need if the site is hard to navigate or has too many pop-ups. 

3. Engagement

Keep in mind that your website is not merely for promoting your products or services. It’s also vital that you use it to engage your prospects and keep them informed and entertained. 

How to Optimise Your Site for the Page Experience Update

There are things you can do to ensure that your website is ready for the upcoming Google algorithm update. Here are some steps you can take to prevent a significant drop in traffic once Google page experience goes live. 

1. Understand the new metrics

To prepare for the update, one of the first things you can do is understand the metrics that Google will use to measure page experience. For now, these metrics include: 

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – measures loading performance. LCP must take place within the first 2.5 seconds after clicking on a link.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – gauges a page’s visual stability. Ideally, web pages should have a maximum CLS of 0.1
• First Input Delay (FID) – measures interactivity. The recommended FID is 100 milliseconds or less. 

2. Perform a site audit

Audit your site based on the metrics discussed above. Then, identify the improvements you need to make to enhance site responsiveness, loading speed, and mobile-friendliness amongst others. 

3. Use tools to make your job easier

Google recommends various tools that you can use to measure and improve your site’s page experience. They include: 

• Search Console report for Core Web Vitals
• Page Speed Insights
• Online mobile-friendly test
• Lighthouse 

Start Working on Your Site’s Page Experience

With user experience set to become a vital search ranking factor soon, it is now more important than ever to ensure that your site can deliver the best page experience to your visitors. This will enable you to improve your search rankings and enjoy more traffic and better online visibility. 

However, it isn’t easy to create a high-quality website on your own. You’ll need the help of SEO experts to ensure that your site is ready for the latest Google update. Fortunately, we at Springhill Marketing are happy to lend you our expertise. Contact us today to obtain an SEO plan tailored for your business.