We recently went through all of the initial information needed for the new Google User Experience Update that is busy rolling out. You can read that blog here.
How to optimise for the Google Core Web Vitals Update
You want to make sure your website is ready for the Google Search algorithm update. Here’s a breakdown of each core ranking signal in detail to start your preparations for the new Google ranking factor. The following topics focus on:
What Are Google Core Web Vitals?
Google Core Web Vitals are a group of specific metrics that focus on page load speed, visual stability and interactivity. The Google Core Web Vitals update is an initiative by Google that provides standard metrics which are essential to delivering a rich web experience.
Google Web Vitals focus on three aspects:
Why Does the Google Core Web Vitals Update Matter in Search Engine Optimisation?
The Google Core Web Vitals update ensures fast-loading, high-quality, and mobile-friendly sites reach more users and are promoted on Google page ranking. With these additional signals, you can:
How to Obtain a Core Web Vitals Report
You can view your Core Web Vitals report in two ways: lab test data and field data gathering.
What Is Field Data Gathering?
Field data gathering collects real user metrics (RUM) from the previous month and takes into account the users’ location and device to provide accurate data on website user experience over time. This method is also used to work out its Google page ranking.
Here are some of the different tools to measure Core Web Vitals field data:
Chrome UX Report (CrUX): available in BigQuery and CrUX API. CrUX provides an easy and quick way to assess your Google Web Vitals, market assessment and perform competitor analysis. You can also filter results by form factor, country, and connection type.
Limit: CrUX API has a 28-day roll out period on average.
Google Search Console (GSC): which is formerly known as Google Webmasters Tools (GWT). GSC is a free tool which provides insights into Google Page Experience, Google Search, and Core Web Vitals report based on field data from CrUX. With GSC, you can also view your percentage of URLs with a good page experience, Google web rating, number of URLs with page experience issues and Core Web Vitals score for Google Chrome on desktop and on mobile.
Limit: It can take over a month for any updates or changes that are made on a website to reflect on Google Search Console (or Google Webmasters Tools).
Web Vitals Extension: this measures Google Core Web Vitals in real-time for Google Chrome on desktop. It is highly recommended as one of the diagnostic tools to measure Core Web Vitals during the web development process.
Limit: It utilizes a user’s internet connection and device to measure the Core Web Vitals.
PageSpeed Insights: these can be used to collect both lab and field data on desktop and mobile devices. PageSpeed Insights also shows you whether or not your website passed the Core Web Vitals assessment over the last 30 days.
Limit: PageSpeed Insights has a 28-day roll out average.
What Is Lab Test Data Collection?
Lab test data gathering uses settings that approximate the user experience Google has based on assumptions of user data. This method is crucial for tracking down bugs and diagnosing web issues because the testing environment has an immediate feedback loop and can be calibrated to simulate different scenarios.
These are the tools to measure Core Web Vitals in the lab:
Lighthouse: measures page performance and accessibility based on your upper percentiles or the majority of site visitors. Similar to the Page Speed Insights, Lighthouse also gives you actionable guidance on how to optimize the website for user experience.
Limit: It can only run at URL-level.
Chrome DevTools: detects unexpected layout and image shifts and input lag.
Limit: Measures the Total Blocking Time (TBT) as a proxy for First Input Delay.
In addition to collecting the Core Web Vitals report, these tools can also be used to fix existing website issues, test website loading speed and get ready for any new Google algorithm update.
How to Improve Core Web Vitals
It is time to optimise your website for the new Google search algorithm update. Follow these tips from technical Search Engine Optimisation services providers on how to achieve a good score on the Google performance test and improve Core Web Vitals:
Now that we’ve covered what Google update Core Web Vitals are and how to improve them, you’re almost ready for the new Google algorithm update. But first, let’s go through the other three search signals that also make up the new Google update.
Google also looks at three core ranking signals that help to clearly define user experience. These will be factored into the new Google core update:
Mobile Friendly: determines a website’s Google readability and usability on mobile devices. To increase its Google mobile ranking your site must pass the mobile-friendly test.
HTTPS: this determines a website’s security status. As part of the Google core update, Google prefers sites that use the HTTPS protocol to protect users from hackers that target sensitive information.
No Intrusive Interstitials: these measure content accessibility. To avoid the Google penalty, check plugins, audit your popups, and adhere to interstitial design guidelines.
Google SEO Updates Prior to Page Experience
There have been significant Google search algorithm updates over the years which were highly related to the website user experience that impacted websites’ Google web ratings.
Google announced that it would start ranking AMP-optimized websites better and faster than other sites in December 2015.
Why Optimize for the Google Page Experience Guide?
Optimising for the Google Page Experience Guide is crucial in providing an unparalleled user experience and surpassing your competition. Not making the necessary website updates is especially detrimental to websites that are dependent on lead generation and to eCommerce sites. You lose the opportunity to showcase your unique value proposition (UVP), reach more potential customers online and market your brand offerings as more page visitors leave your website.
Here are more reasons you must start your preparations for the Google core update now:
SEO experts also emphasise that it’s important for website functions to render correctly, just as a physical store would have certain expected aspects, such as functioning entryways and open signs and exits, to facilitate the best possible customer experience and to ease purchasing.
Website performance and security greatly affect user experience. If you don't maintain the standards, traffic will decrease exponentially and your page ranking will suffer.
Fast Page Labelling in Chrome for Android
Google announced that it would add “Fast Page” labels to the context menus of pages that deliver an excellent page experience on mobile in August 2020. This change will start rolling out in Chrome 85 Beta.
Users will see a “Fast Page” label for URLs when this goes live that pass the Core Web Vitals assessment and the website speed test. The goal is to ensure websites provide an excellent UX and prioritize optimising for the Google Page Speed Update. Ultimately, web pages have better chances of ranking higher in Google Search with fast page load speed.
Using Google Search Console to Monitor Website Performance
Technical SEO services providers recommend using Google Search Console (often still referred to as Webmasters Google Tools) to test overall performance and website loading speed.
Google launched a new Page Experience report in Search Console on 19 April 2022 to provide website owners and web developers with more actionable insights on how to optimize for user experience. The Page Experience report shows the other three Page Experience signals and your website’s latest Core Web Vitals performance, including mobile usability, HTTPS and ad experience.
It is now easier to filter pages with a good page experience and track pages that fail the Page Experience metrics with this new feature.
How to Optimize Your Website for User Experience
The Google Search algorithm update means a lot of changes for many websites. To ensure your site passes the website speed test Google and other page experience assessments, follow these tips from a trusted technical SEO agency:
We've given you everything you need to know, but if you're still not sure or are feeling slightly overwhelmed, then let us do it for you! Contact us today, and we'll optimise your website for you.
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