Google’s Page Experience update has officially begun rolling out this week. The rollout is due to be completed by the end of August and will include changes to the way in which Google ranks webpages. According to Google, the update won’t “play its full role” until the end of August and is instead being gradually introduced. The update will affect websites globally and it is important to prepare yourself for the forthcoming changes.
What is the update?
The Page Experience update has been developed primarily to create a better browsing experience for Google’s users. The update will consider several aspects, or ‘signals’, of a webpage and then give it an overall score based on how the experience is for the user. As a website owner, you will be able to view your score in Search Console.
What factors contribute to your score?
There are 5 key factors to consider if you want to get the best Page Experience score as possible.
#1 Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are the first factor that will influence your Page Experience score. They measure the speed, responsiveness, and visual stability of your website, communicating to Google that it is a reliable resource deserving of a ranking boost.
#2 Mobile usability
Your webpage must be fully optimised for mobile if you want it to score well. Mobile is an increasingly important platform and not something that should be overlooked.
#3 SSL certificate
In order for you to score well, your website must have a valid SSL certificate. SSL certificates secure the data that is exchanged on a webpage and demonstrates to Google that you value your users’ security and privacy.
#4 Security
If there are any security issues detected on your website in general, every single one of your pages will be disqualified from achieving ‘Good’ status with Page Experience.
#5 Ad Experience
You must be genuine with your advertising. Users do not appreciate being lied to or manipulated and any advertising methods deemed as such will impact your Page Experience score. Prioritising a genuinely good user experience and avoiding distracting or malicious advertising techniques will push your status up.
What can you do to prepare?
The main thing that you can do to prepare your website and its pages for the Page Experience update is to check that you have met the 5 criteria above to the best of your ability. With the update not yet complete, there is still time to adjust your content and your strategies to comply with Google’s expectations.
It is unlikely that you will see any drastic changes in your rankings or traffic as a result of the update, the process is designed to be gradual. Any major changes that occur should be mitigated by the rollout. If you continue to practice good strategies in relation to your website, you should be just fine, and may even benefit from the update.
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