The search giant, Google, is known for its continuous quest to improve user experience and deliver more relevant search results. This leads to SEO's sweating the changes, understanding what the changes mean, and how they can work as quickly as possible to avoid penalties on client websites and to explain why there might be significant fluctuations in search rankings. Two of the latest notable changes are the Page Experience and Core Web Vitals updates.
Here are two of the most recent updates to the Google Algorithm.
Page Experience Update: Google's Page Experience update prioritizes user satisfaction by assessing factors like page loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. It introduced Core Web Vitals as essential metrics, making them part of the search ranking criteria.
Core Web Vitals: Core Web Vitals consist of three key metrics: a. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) - Measures loading performance. b. First Input Delay (FID) - Measures interactivity. c. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) - Measures visual stability.
Whether you're an experienced SEO or a business owner trying to keep up with all the changes, here's how you can take advantage of these changes:
Optimize Core Web Vitals: To thrive in the new algorithm landscape, optimizing Core Web Vitals is crucial. Consider the following steps:Improve your site's loading speed.Enhance interactivity by minimizing JavaScript execution time.Prevent layout shifts by ensuring that page elements don't jump around during loading.
Mobile Optimization: With mobile-first indexing being a top priority, ensure that your website is mobile-friendly. Responsive design and mobile optimization are vital for improving user experience and SEO rankings.
High-Quality Content: Content remains king in the SEO world. Craft engaging, informative, and original content that resonates with your target audience. Google rewards websites that provide valuable content.
Secure Your Website: Google gives preference to secure websites with HTTPS. Ensure your website has an SSL certificate to boost user trust and SEO rankings. (This is the first thing I suggest to all my clients who are missing the https in their URL).
Local SEO: If your business serves a local audience, pay attention to local SEO. Optimize your Google My Business profile, encourage customer reviews (I can show you how to do this), and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information is consistent across the web.
Backlinks: Quality over quantity is the name of the game. Seek backlinks from authoritative, relevant websites. Diversify your backlink profile to establish trust with Google.
User Experience: A seamless user experience is essential. Ensure your website's navigation is intuitive, and users can easily find the information they seek.
Technical SEO: Technical aspects like site structure, XML sitemaps, and schema markup play a pivotal role in SEO. Regularly audit your site to fix technical issues that may hamper your rankings.
Monitor and Adapt: SEO is a dynamic field. Continuously monitor your website's performance and rankings. Stay updated on industry trends and be prepared to adjust your strategies as needed.
Need some help navigating these changes? Contact me for a quick consultation.