Since the original announcement in May 2020, search engine marketers around the globe have been eagerly preparing for Google’s latest update: ‘Page Experience’. A new ranking factor is due to roll out in May 2021.
So, what is page experience?
Here’s what Google has to say on the matter:
“The page experience signal measures aspects of how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page. Optimizing for these factors makes the web more delightful for users across all web browsers and surfaces, and helps sites evolve towards user expectations on mobile. We believe this will contribute to business success on the web as users grow more engaged and can transact with less friction.” – Google HQ
Essentially, the page experience update is a group of signals that have been developed to measure the user’s experience when navigating a website. This takes into account the speed of the website, how fast the website reacts to user interaction and much more.
why is this update so important?
This update brings home the crucial message that the users are the most important component when building a website, from the way it’s developed, down to the way pages are laid out. From May 2021, if your website hasn’t been built with the consumer in mind, it’s time to change your mindset.
What’s changed? For many years, search engine marketers have been optimising websites for speed and user experience, following suit with Google’s current page experience signals: mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS, intrusive interstitial guidelines. However, Google has changed the game with their latest edition: Core Web Vitals
What are Core Web Vitals?
The clue is in the name; Core Web Vitals are 3 vital page experience signals that Google believes matter the most.
Find out what these are, and answers to any questions you may have about CWV’s in our downloadable guide.
Download Our Guide to Page Experience
Tools to measure Core Web Vitals
Unsure if your website is up to speed with Core Web Vitals? There’s a test for that.
Google has graced us with a number of tools we can use to test whether a website passes all 3 of the new Core Web Vitals. We recommend trying out Google Search Console’s Core Web Vitals Report. Or, for a more in depth overview, try out Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
How powerful will the new Page Experience signal be?
As always, Google is secretive. How impactful this update will be is impossible to tell prior to the launch. Basing our predictions on experience with previous updates, we recommend trying to ace the test before the May 2021 rollout to avoid a decline in rankings.
Not a clue what any of this means? We’ve got you covered. Here at Brace Creative Agency we have a team of experienced search marketing experts ready to work on your website. Give us a call on 01452 729 953 or take advantage of our free SEO audit.
