Big news for the webmasters this year- Google is going to launch a new page experience for all! Here is how this new algorithm from Google will have an effect on your page rankings and the conventional steps you take to be on top of search results.
Indeed, you may have heard about this new update to be launched this summer this year, right? Yes, they have actually made another one- a new one with a fresh start! In brief, it is sure that Google is going to update its algorithm in 2021 to include a special aspect called Page Experience. Not to be forgotten, this is certainly going to be an essential element that will have a drastic impact on the rankings of the pages.
Hey, wait, first of all, what is Page Experience? And is it that important to be added to your overflowing to-do list? Yes, it is! Let us take a close look for Page Experience together!
Does page Experience really matter?
In simple and sober terms, page experience effectively includes all aspects of how all the users interact with a web page and how good it is for them. Yes, it can also be painful at times! In this case, we really hope it is not a later case!
What does it include?
This effectively includes all the existing Google Search Signals. That is, safe-browsing, mobile-friendless, HTTPS, and also intrusive interstitial guidelines. Not only that, make a note: It also includes metrics in Google’s Web Vitals. Currently, you can imagine that the focus is on three facets. Indeed, that is pretty easy to guess, right?
The three aspects are interactivity, loading, and visual stability. Woah, big terms! Don’t worry. In this blog, and we will guide you through all these technical terms with just the ease of understanding.
Loading-
In this context, loading measures the received load speed. Now, you may be wondering about the load speed of which element? In this context, we mean the page load speed. When the main content should have been loaded, the page load timeline plays a major role for any website to have its conversions!
Interactivity-
It is the time. Now, which time? Indeed, this is an interesting concept for you to deal with! It is the time from when a user will first interact with a page. SIMPLE! Even a tap or a click would be counted, for instance, to the time when the web browser you use begins to process the interaction.
Visual Stability-
It has all to do with preventing and blocking (to some extent) unexpected movement of the content you have on a page.
Indeed, knowingly or unknowingly, you may have optimized for some of the above factors beforehand, but do you think it is appropriately done? If not, read this: According to Google won earlier research, as the page load time goes one second to 10 seconds, the probability that a mobile site visitor bouncing increases to at least 123%. Ouch, it hurts!
Now, there is a second thing to understand: the number of elements on a page literally goes from 400 to 6000, then the probability of conversion drops by no less than 95%. Again, it hurts, right! Now, Google is planning to bring all these and also the different aspects dealing in and around these factors together, under one roof. And, certainly, this will be going to have even more of an impact on what you call organic search results!
What are the visual indicators of page experience?
Remember one announcement? Google had also said that by next year, they are going to introduce a visual indicator so that they are able to designate the different search results that meet all of their page experience specifications successfully.
Yes, you are correct. They have done this in the past too! You must have observed, for instance, AMP icons and also the slow and mobile-friendly labels. If this indicator is displayed effectively and prominently in all the search results, there are best chances that users would prefer these sites over the other ones.
Recent update:
While Google is yet to announce the size, shape, and position of such indicators, it’s worth watching out how seriously it is being taken for forthcoming page experience guidelines. This means preparation done beforehand is required and can be helpful to accept it profitably!
Hold on. Page Experience isn’t everything!
Now, since you have read about page experience so far and decided well that the essential thing is to fix all of the above parameters to see zoom in your traffic, but, wait, that won’t necessarily be the case. Indeed, everything starts with that!
Google has pointed this out in their blog as- “Great page experience doesn’t override having great page content.” At the same time, you can rest assured that when there are too many pages with similar relevancy, an improved page experience will make all the difference that other factors may not!
Being said that, is it indispensable to pay attention to the update that is just coming in for all of us? Here is why you should pay attention to this algorithm update. Explore more with us!
Paying attention would pay off!
The new page experience metrics should be consistently taken seriously by developers and also the people involved in marketing and optimization strategies. Yes, it is a fact and is a proven way to improve search results and rankings. So, let’s start exploring the different aspects to deal with it!
Contextually, to begin with, if at all your user experience is seen as being in the top braces, visual cues will effectively guide browsers and consumers to your page directly and not to others!
Indeed, if you observe, Google itself is pretty clear about this! Yes, it is clear about the increased weightage they are going to give to age experience. After all, it would be best if you never forgot that a terrific page experience lets people admire more and thus, increases engagement.
The second case is that it is evident that those pages that fall below the new benchmarks will be left behind in the rankings. This will actually result in a significant drop in traffic.
Do you know Google already considers hundreds and thousands of such aspects to determine rankings? The inclusion of page experience helps and effectively lets them guide people to access information and data more enjoyably easily.
Site owners and other people need to understand these signals and make the necessary changes with updates as a priority.
Otherwise, in either of the case, you may run the risk of your page being ignored and, thus, skipped. You wouldn’t want that now, at any cost, right?
What will happen with a bad page experience?
Before we get down to understanding how to improve page experience, it will be great to understand what a bad page experience is and what it can actually affect!
Slow page speeds can be worst!
Your search now, and the result comes after 5 minutes! You know how frustrating it is, and it can be worse to click on a search result and then wait for hours for a page to load. It may be a few seconds indeed, but it feels like an eternity, especially if you are in a hurry. The chances are that your consumers may feel the same way and are put off at the moment.
Bad design and structure
Even if the page loads quickly and easily, there are times when it can be confusing and difficult to navigate. This could be because of the design. It can be cliched or just puzzling to some upper level. There could be too many pop-ups, and you may be lost between them, right! There could be no proper content structure, and yes, it is common! Looking for information on a site could be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Lack of engagement.
Unfortunately, it is the most common mistake as too many websites assume that their only purpose is to sell their products. But today’s consumer is different, and they want to be engaged with, and wants to be understood and wants to be entertained. That’s why likeability and empathy are important factors.
The steps you can take
It can take up to six months to go before these changes take effect, and you can actually observe them. As a webmaster indeed, you have more than enough time to prepare for this. And luckily, there are no excuses for not being ready.
As a stakeholder or a site owner, you can take Aja Frost’s advice, who heads content SEO at HubSpot. This is what he believes: “I think this gives you good ammunition to go to your web team or your performance team and say, ‘Hey, you know, Google…[is] going to release this in six months, and so we need to focus on it.'”
Here are some things to consider.
You can start by understanding and gaining knowledge of the metrics that Google is going to use in the future. For now, these are CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), LCP (Largest Concertful Paint), and FID (First Input Delay). Google itself provides explanations, solutions, and standards of measurement, which are useful in gaining mastery over them effectively.
Based on this study, you can then conduct a successful site audit. You just have to optimize for these new ranking signals, especially factors such as responsiveness, page load speeds, UX, mobile usability, and security. There are a variety of tools that you can use for this. For instance, Google’s online mobile-friendly test, as well as Page Speed Insights, can effectively play the role of performance checkers and checkpoints across all devices.
The bottom line
As you know, it takes many individuals who work together to create a high-quality website. It’s time to bring these stakeholders and site owners together and discuss how an updated algorithm handles things like this. The UX design, SEO, and IT teams should be in perfect alignment to achieve this, especially when it comes to future actions and goals. You could start now simply by asking them if they would prefer tea over coffee or something to get it started!
