Google’s Page Experience Update 2021: Are You Prepared for It?

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Google's Page Experience Update 2021: Are You Prepared for It?

In June 2021, Google announced that they were rolling out a new algorithm – the Page Experience Update 2021. 

Ever since then, digital-native companies have been in a scurry, looking for ways to champion the new update.

And why shouldn’t they?

After all, Google claims the largest market share in the global search engine market. Therefore, it’s vital for digital brands that their websites are built in accordance with Google’s expectations.

So, how well is your site prepared?

If you’re not confident about answering that question, you need a crash course in Google’s Page Experience Update.

So here goes. 

What Is Google’s Page Experience Update 2021 All About?

According to the update, a site’s UX will govern its ranking and other ranking parameters. In addition, it explains, in measurable terms, how site owners can evaluate their UX using different metrics.

Essential page ranking signals will include:

Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals will measure three aspects of your site’s UX. They are:

Loading Speed: It will be measured by LCP or Largest Contentful Paint, which shows the time elapsed between a user click and site load. The ideal LCP is lower than 2.5 seconds.

Stability: It will be measured by FID or First Input Delay, which shows the delay between when a user first clicks on a site element and when the browser processes it. It should be less than 100 milliseconds.

Interactivity: It will be measured by CLS or Cumulative Layout Shift, which shows how frequently a site element shifts after it is clicked. Its ideal range is less than 0.1.

Mobile Usability

It assesses the mobile-friendliness of a site by measuring its mobile usability errors. 

If your site uses a responsive theme and has scannable content written in large fonts, you can hope for a “Good” rating for this ranking signal. 

Security Issues

Google expects sites not to have deceptive or malicious programs that ask for user data covertly. 

Objectionable software under this category are:

  • Malware
  • Hacked Content
  • Social Engineering

HTTPS

Google verifies that the HTTP/HTTPS ratio of your site is within the permissible range. If it’s too high, Google shows a warning banner on your site for the visitors’ benefit. 

HTTPS is vital for your site since it offers advanced security in the form of:

  • Encryption
  • Authentication
  • Data Integrity

Using a structured data tool, you can generate your site’s schema markup code in crawler-compatible languages.

Ad Experience

Google checks whether or not a site is employing advertising tactics that interrupt the browsing experience of its visitors.

As defined by Google, disruptive advertising tactics include ads, banners, and pop-ups (standalone and native) that obstruct users from accessing the main content.

How to Protect Your Site from Google’s Page Experience Update

To ensure that your site doesn’t drop ranks once the new update kicks in, follow these SEO best practices:

  • First, measure your site speed by using Google’s PageSpeed Insights test.
  • Second, reduce the site loading time by compressing your images.
  • Third, keep your CMS updated at all times.
  • Finally, focus on your content’s quality.
  • Simplify your site’s navigation

Gaurav SharmaAuthor Bio

Gaurav Sharma is the founder and CEO of Attrock, a results-driven digital marketing company. Grew an agency from 5-figure to 7-figure revenue in just two years | 10X leads | 2.8X conversions |  300K organic monthly traffic. He also contributes to top publications like HuffPost, Adweek, Business 2 Community, TechCrunch, and more.

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If you need more information or tips to champion the Page Experience Update, check out this infographic by Attrock.

Google’s Page Experience Update 2021: A Quick Guide

Image Courtesy: Attrock.com

Google’s Page Experience Update 2021: Are You Prepared for It?