Big ‘G’ Algorithm change May 2021

A quick intro to the announced core update:

The core web vitals becoming a ranking signal will include a factor called Page Experience.

So what does Page Experience means?

As per Google, page experience is a set of signals that gauge how users perceive the experience of interacting with a webpage beyond its pure information value. In other words, it includes all aspects of how users interact with a website and how good or bad it is for them.

The following signal will fall under Page Experience:

1. Mobile-friendliness
2. Safe browsing
3. Intrusive interstitial guidelines
4. Loading speed
5. Interactivity
6. Visual stability

So, what does the Page Experience Update mean for search?

This should serve as a reminder to website owners and developers to always put audience first. This means ensuring the website content and user experience cater to user preferences and accessibility.

Within the next weeks, leading up to the May update, we will issue a few more articles reviewing specific points of this core algorithm change. In this article, we will highlight on mobile-friendliness.

In Q3 of 2020, mobile devices generated 51% of global website traffic, a fact the Google algorithm cannot ignore. This percentage summarizes the global mobile usage overall industries and countries.

Here one has to understand that there are countries where the mobile network and mobile ownership is high, and the mobile usage is consequently higher than the 51%. In addition, mobile usage is also industry-specific. In a B2B company or industry, mobile might not play such an important role. However, with a lot of B2C companies or industries, mobile plays a significant role. Hence the below should be considered.

• Choose a mobile-responsive theme or template*
• Optimize images and CSS
• Eliminate unused scripts
• Change button size and placement
• Use a large and readable font
• Eliminate pop-ups
• Reduce URL redirects
• Leverage browser caching
• Test regularly

*In the past, Google favored sites with separate desktop and mobile versions. Now responsive websites are getting rewarded by search engines.

A piece of advice given by SEO experts is “Site structure, too, should be optimized for mobile.”

Now, if your company falls in the category of businesses where mobile views are important and mobile engagement is high, you should know that if a professional web development agency develops your website, you can customize your website specifically for mobile users without altering its overall site structure.

SEO is an important aspect of your online marketing strategy, but you have to see this always with an eye on the entire online marketing spectrum.