Google is currently testing its brand new and most anticipated Google page experience algorithm. It will pave the way for Google to measure and rank the websites based on the user experiences it offers to end users. Google is planning this algo alongside the existing one as a major ranking signal.
Google, in one of its official posts, confirmed that the algorithm will be rolled out in 2021 and webmasters will be informed six months before it happens. Google will allow enough time for them so that they can prepare well for it.
Key Elements of Google Page Experience
If experts are to be believed, Google’s page experience is built around the Core Web Vitals. These are the guidelines that the Chrome team launched earlier this year. With GPE Google aims at offering users a highly improved search experience that’s smooth, mobile-friendly and completely safe.
Following are the key elements of GPE that decide whether are not a website is in total compliance with the page experience metric.
Core web vitals
Google’s core web vitals are made to the fore to make sure searchers enjoy a fast and seamless web browsing experience. Alongside, the search giant also created a Chrome User Experience Report that allows webmasters to measure a site’s current performance according to these core web vitals. The Core Web Vitals are made up measure the following signals:
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – The signal measures the quickness of the largest content piece’s loading time.
First Input Delay (FID) – This signal measures responsiveness to the user’s clicking, scrolling, and typing.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – The signal measures the visual stability of the page.
Mobile Friendly Website
Like always Google will show thumbs up to websites that are optimized for mobile devices irrespective of their screen size. In a mobile-driven world populated by approx. 3.5 billion smartphone users, missing mobile devices means missing a lot of traffic. Google is now keenly focused on showing up only mobile-friendly websites in search displays.
HTTPS
Google also prefers those sites in search that are made safe and secure with SSL certificates. Websites that have SSL certificates have https:// in their URL. SSL simply encrypts the data that traverses between the user and the primary server. It protects sensitive information from hacking and breaches. If you are using a Chrome browser you must have seen a warning showing ‘connection is not secure’ for non-https websites.
Non-Intrusive Interstitials
Google talks tough on intrusive interstitials Popups and ads that prevent users from accessing the website content. Popups are the biggest hurdles to user experience. They cover the entire mobile screen and sometimes difficult to skip. They continue to appear while users reading the text. But not all the interstitials or popups are bad for user experience and ranking. Disclaimers, cookie usage information, and login dialogs don’t affect rankings.
How to Optimize Your Website for Better Page Experience?
As 2021 is approaching fast, your website needs to be ready for challenges. Getting your website ready for the competition is critical to your business success. Here are some major steps that you should take to power up your website.
Choose a Right Web Hosting Service
A website’s speed and performance is crucial to its rankings. Thus, you should make wise decision when it comes to server and hosting. While choosing one, make sure to go for a fast hosting and server that keeps your site fast and responsive. Before sealing the deal check if the resources and hosting space provider offers is enough to accomplish your requirements.
Keep Page Size Lite
Visuals are for sure an element of engagement for your website. However, overuse of images and videos can slow down a website. It can hamper user experience too. There are several ways to handle this problem. Use image compressor tools to reduce photo size. Using CDNs or content delivery networks to process and execute heavy files rightly from the server. This significantly drops the load on your website.
Optimize Site for Mobile Devices
As internet users are turning to mobiles for their respective needs, it’s important to have websites compatible with mobile devices irrespective of their screen size. Mobile websites that adjust to the small screens provide users with a seamless browsing experience.
Focus on Website Security
Ignoring website security may cost you direly. While developing a website, refrain from adding malicious scripts or deceptive content to your website. Protect the website from malware, ransomware, and hacking attempts using a firewall. Install SSL certificate to secure data transmission between user and server. A website with SSL padlock gets preference in Google search rankings.
Conclusion
Eventually, Google page experience is going to be a big thing in 2021. It will be an important search ranking signal in 2021. You can start preparing for the update now. Though there is no official word on the exact launch date you can start with a perfect user experience on your website. Devote time to check your website’s performance, security, and mobile friendliness. Make sure that all important website elements are in place .
Tarun Gupta, CEO of Brainpulse Technologies, is a prolific author and digital marketing specialist. His insightful writings span SEO, content marketing, social media strategy, and email campaigns, offering invaluable expertise to businesses worldwide. Tarun’s contributions continue to shape the digital marketing landscape, guiding success in multiple niches.
