Preparing for the Google Page Experience Update

Improve Page Load Speed

It’s clear that when your website pages load quickly, it makes for a better user experience. Data shows 53 percent of visitors abandon a mobile website if the page takes more than 3 seconds to load. 

In the Page Experience Update, Google will be looking at how long it takes not only for your page to load overall but also at which point in that timeline the main content is loaded. 

Therefore, if you don’t know how long it takes for your website pages to load (on desktop and mobile), then be sure to find out. If any of them are showing high load times, then you may need to look at videos, images, or other issues potentially causing the slowdown. 

Reduce Bounce Rates 

The bounce rate measures how much time a visitor spends on your website page. The less time they spend, the higher the bounce rate. 

High bounce rates indicate visitors aren’t finding what they need on the website page, signaling to Google the page has little value for the query it appears for in search results. It can also be an indication of a bad user experience from something like a pop-up window that blocks the main content.

Analytics tools can provide insight into your bounce rates, and here you can find some fixes for common high bounce rate problems.

Eliminate Unexpected Layout Shifts

When the text you’re reading or a button you wanted to click suddenly moves to another position on the page, this is known as an unexpected layout shift. It’s incredibly frustrating for users, which is why it’s included as part of the Google Page Experience Update.

In order to avoid or eliminate this situation, you can:

• Include size attributes on your images and videos
• Avoid inserting content above existing content
• Ensure transitions are animated for context and continuity

If it feels like this recommendation is a bit technical, then you may want to consult a professional web developer who understands and is experienced in working with these elements.

Wrapping Up

While user experience has been an important component of SEO for several years, the Page Experience Update elevates these priorities to a new level. In order for your website pages to align with the new ranking factors, now is the time to start analyzing them the way your customers do.

Want to Learn More About SEO?

SEO is a critical part of any digital marketing strategy, and skilled professionals are highly sought after. If you want to learn everything you need to ensure that users find and engage with your webpage—and eventually become your customers—check out our Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Training course today!