Get Your Site Ready For Google’s Page Experience Algorithm Update

by | Feb 3, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

If you want your site to rank well in search engine results, it’s generally a good idea to follow Google’s best practices. But one of the greatest challenges for digital marketers and website developers is that they may not always know when Google has made adjustments to those best practices — or the specific changes that should be made to adhere to them.

Google’s algorithm updates can tell us a lot about what both Google and web visitors expect to see from websites. We now know that Google’s new Page Experience algorithm update is set to roll out in 2021, so we actually have time to prepare. But what exactly does this update address and how can you get your website ready? Keep reading to find out.

What is the Page Experience Update?

Google actually rolls out thousands of algorithm updates every year, though you might not always realize when one has taken place. Since the main goal is to provide useful and relevant information for users, most algorithm updates (which make adjustments to how sites are evaluated and ranked) are created with this in mind. In many cases, sites that provide poor quality content or a bad user experience will be penalized when these updates are rolled out, while sites that offer great content and helpful solutions in an accessible way will be rewarded.

Google’s upcoming Page Experience update is expected to launch in May 2021 and will specifically evaluate the user experience a given page provides. Even before the page update occurs, it’s in your best interests to offer a fast, secure, and uninterrupted visitor experience. But once the update is rolled out, you could be penalized for failing to address these shortcomings within your site.

How Can I Prepare For the Page Experience Update?

Most business owners won’t want to risk ruining their rankings, so it makes sense that you’d want to do everything possible to prepare for this update. After all, it’s rare that anyone receives advance notice of an upcoming algorithm change — so it’s a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity. But what exactly should you focus on? Here are just a few of the main components that will be taken into consideration with this algo update.

  • Page Load Speed: One of Google’s Core Web Vitals (which are recently released ranking signals that will play a role in this update) is Largest Contentful Paint, or LCP. It basically refers to the amount of time it takes for the largest content element on a given page to load completely. Make sure your loading speed adequate enough to get your LCP rating below 2.5 seconds.
  • Interactivity Delays: Another one of Google’s Core Web Vitals is First Input Delay (or FID), which measures the time it takes from when a user first clicks on a page to the time when the web browser responds to that interaction. You should focus on interactivity response time to ensure your FID score is less than 100 milliseconds.
  • Visual Stabilization: The last of Google’s Core Web Vitals is Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). A layout shift occurs when the elements of a page unexpectedly jump around, which can be jarring for a web visitor. To avoid this disruption, aim to decrease your CLS score (which is measured by how frequently users experience layout shifts during a page’s lifespan) below 0.1.
  • Error-Free Navigation: In addition to the Core Web Vitals outlined above, you’ll also want to make sure your site is free of broken pages, redirect errors, and other navigation issues to improve the visitor experience.
  • Responsive Design: With more web traffic coming from mobile users, it’s extremely important to ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive. Google will continue to prioritize the mobile experience in 2021.
  • Website Security: With this algorithm update, Google will also care about HTTPS secure connections and browsing safety for users. If you have security issues with your site, fix them in advance of the update.
  • Obstructive Elements: Intrusive interstitials, which are basically pop-ups that block a large chunk of a page (or the entire page), won’t help your rankings. They’re a big problem for mobile users, in particular, so ensure that any pop-ups you’re using are responsive and can be easily closed on any device.

With this information in mind, you can get your site ready for Google’s Page Experience algorithm update. For help getting started, reach out to your SEO agency to run a site audit and to craft a strategy that can improve your search rankings in 2021.