Every time Google signals a new algorithm update, it drives the SEO world into a frenzy.

When Google announced a user experience update six months back, SEO companies and digital marketing agencies ran around optimizing websites to prevent any significant drop in the search engine rankings. 

Google initially announced a ‘page experience update’ in May 2021. However, they moved it to mid-June 2021, and the complete rollout is supposed to happen by August 2021.

To leverage from the best of the new algorithm update, you need to get on top of it. Here are some critical points expected from Google’s user experience update and a few ways to prepare for it.

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

Google is known to give importance to the user experience of the websites. However, websites that don’t consider user experience may face the wrath of the algorithms.

Google has announced a few page experience signals that will be part of the new update. Among those is the Core Web Vital metrics that will play a huge role in determining the user experience of the websites. Here are the three critical signals that make up the Core Web Vital metrics.

  • Large Contentful Paint (LCP)

LCP is an indicator of page loading speed. It measures the rendering time taken for the largest content element on the page to load. LCP is usually any visual element that takes a big chunk of the page loading time. Google recommends having no more than 2.5 seconds loading time for the LCP.

  • First Input Delay (FID)

FID denotes the gap between an interaction on the website and when the site loads it. For example, when you click on an interactive element on a page, say a popping-up feature, FID measures the time for the pop-up to open. Google recommends having no more than 100 milliseconds delay.

  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Cumulative layout shift is the measure of the visual stability of a page. Sometimes, we come across pages where the visual elements shift in position as it loads or when the user interacts with it. This activity can disrupt their experience. This lapse is the main reason why Google stresses the importance of websites achieving visual stability. Google recommends having a CLS score of less than 0.1 throughout the entire span of the website. 

Apart from these Core Web Vital metrics, the page experience update will also include metrics like:

  • Mobile-friendliness
  • HTTPS
  • Safe browsing without any malicious content 
  • Absence of Interstitials that could interfere with the user experience

How Can You Prepare for Google’s Page Experience Update?

After studying the metrics included in the new soon-to-be-launched Google algorithm update, our Houston SEO experts from our digital marketing company have listed a few things you can do to prepare for it.

Improve Your Site’s Speed

With the new update, the importance of website speed for SEO has increased by folds.

Right now, you don’t just need to focus on the page loading time but also on the loading time of the visual and interactive elements on your page. You need to go through each one by one and optimize them to reduce their overall loading time.

For example, having too many pop-ups on the website could ruin the experience of the users. This activity could also slow down the page loading speed. The new Google update will take such factors into account to determine the user experience provided on your websites.

Mobile-Friendliness

Mobile devices generated more than half of the global website traffic in the first quarter of 2021, according to Statista.

With so many mobile phone users, the websites need to be optimized for quick loading and to achieve a clear interface for these searchers. Google emphasizes a significant load on the mobile-friendliness of the websites ever since the past few years and this update is no different.

Great Content 

The user experience update of Google focuses more on the page elements. But this isn’t to say that the content isn’t important. In the initial announcement about the page experience update, Google mentioned,

“While all of the components of page experience are important, we will prioritize pages with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar. A good page experience doesn’t override having great, relevant content. However, in cases where there are multiple pages that have similar content, page experience becomes much more important for visibility in Search.”

So, it’s clear that the quality of the content on the pages plays a vital role even with the page experience update focusing on the technical and design elements.

Tracking Your Core Web Vital Signals

Google Search Console has a new report that displays the Core Web Vital signals that will give you an idea of where you want to work on. You can identify the metrics of individual pages and find out areas where the user experience can improve to get within the acceptable limits.

Get Ahead of the Google’s User Experience Update Now

If you’re worried about your rankings due to the new Google update, then you can get the help of our digital marketing agency in Houston now. YellowFin Digital is one of the most skilled companies offering Houston SEO services. Our SEO specialists can analyze your metrics and your page elements and work on improving your site’s Core Web Vital signals. Request a free quote from us now.