Google Page Experience Update for Desktop Now Live

Did you know that the Google page experience update for desktop is now in full effect? The search giant has recently confirmed that it has finished rolling out its latest algorithm update after announcing it on February 22, 2022. Google added that it includes all the existing signals of the page experience update for mobile except the mobile-friendliness requirement. 

Page Experience Explained

As you know, Google is keen on providing web users with the best results and online experience possible. The latest page experience update is one of the many measures it has implemented throughout the years to achieve its goal. But what exactly is page experience? 

Page experience refers to a group of signals that help Google determine how users perceive the experience a web page can provide beyond its information value. It includes the page’s loading speed, how secure it is, and how stable its various elements are as it loads. 

What’s Included in the Latest Google Page Experience Update?

With the latest Google page experience update for desktop, site owners must take into account four key factors to ensure a better user experience and search ranking for their web pages. They are: 

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

LCP measures the perceived loading speed of a web page. Basically, it determines the render time when the largest image or text block starts to become visible on the page as it loads. To ensure a good page experience for visitors, websites should strive to have their LCP occur within 2.5 seconds or less. 

2. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Have you experienced browsing a webpage and then suddenly, the text moved and you ended up clicking on something else? While this seems a minor inconvenience, it can have serious consequences. For instance, let’s say you’re shopping online. But instead of canceling your order, you accidentally clicked on the “Buy” button because the page content moved without warning. 

This demonstrates why CLS is a crucial ranking factor. Achieving a score of 0.1 or less enables websites to ensure visual stability and prevent unexpected movement of page content that could lead to poor user experience and a lower search ranking. 

3. HTTPS Security

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is an online communication protocol that ensures the safety and integrity of data between a website and its user’s device. Because users want to ensure their online security and privacy when browsing web pages, having your site served over HTTPS will enable you to get a search ranking boost from Google. 

4. Absence of intrusive interstitials

Intrusive interstitials are commonly known as “pop-up ads”. They usually block a significant portion, if not all, of the visible parts of a web page. Because they prevent users from accessing and viewing a page’s content, having excessive amounts of intrusive interstitials can lead to poor user experience. Therefore, try to avoid intrusive pop-ups as much as possible to ensure that your website is in line with Google’s latest algorithm update. 

Meanwhile, there are types of interstitials that Google finds acceptable. Using them on your site won’t hurt your page experience and search ranking. They include: 

• Interstitials for cookie usage
• Interstitials for age verification
• Interstitials that use a reasonable amount of space 

Meanwhile, the search giant also updated the page experience reports tool on the Google Search Console to help site owners gauge how effective their sites are at offering quality user experience. 

Page Experience Is Not Everything

With the launch of the latest Google page experience update for desktop, the search giant re-affirms the importance of providing your web visitors with an excellent user experience. However, while this particular ranking signal can contribute to your site’s search ranking, it is not everything. 

Please note that Google considers over a hundred factors to determine a website’s placement on search result pages. Even if your website can provide an excellent user experience, it won’t automatically receive an excellent Google ranking if its other elements, most notably its web content, are poor quality. 

Moreover, the search giant reminded site owners not to expect “drastic changes” in search rankings with its latest algorithm update. Our SEO experts here at Springhill Marketing believe this is a clear indication that as a site owner, you should not focus your attention on a single ranking factor. Rather, you should take a holistic approach to search engine optimisation to obtain your expected results. 

Besides improving page experience, you must offer web content that provides value to your target audience and demonstrates your industry expertise. You must also obtain quality backlinks and online citations to boost your online authority and visibility. 

Always Aim for a Better User Experience

Page experience has always been a crucial Google ranking factor. And with the latest search algorithm update, the search giant re-affirms the importance of providing web visitors with an excellent user experience while browsing your site. However, effective SEO is more than just ensuring that your site is accessible and easy to use. It would be best to consider other factors to secure an excellent search ranking. 

If you’re looking for SEO experts who can provide you with effective optimisation solutions, you’ve come to the right place. At Springhill Marketing, we take a holistic approach to SEO to ensure better and longer-lasting results. Please get in touch with us today so we can discuss how we can assist you.