Google Update: How to Fix Core Web Vitals to Stay Visible
Changes to the Google algorithm or its operating system isn’t a total surprise to people in the know. This year, however, is a little different. “Core Web Vitals,” introduced conceptually by Google back in May 2020, are going into effect, and how you respond to these changes could dramatically impact your traffic, conversions and overall site health.
What’s changing?
Simply put, Google is now doubling-down on the end-user and the experience visitors have on your website.
Page Experience will become the new signal for the larger search engine algorithm, communicating to the overall platform where to rank various pages. The scores calculated in this system will be based on a cumulative analysis of the following:
- Core web vitals: a measurement of three main experience-based metrics to gauge the overall web page speed. This includes the Largest Contentful Paint (how quickly a page loads), First Input Delay (how quickly a page can facilitate interaction) and Cumulative Layout Shift (how quickly the page is stable).
- Mobile-friendly browsing: a measurement of how well your website usability in a mobile space.
- Safe browsing: ensuring your website does not contain any malicious or harmful content.
- HTTPS: ensuring your website is hosted on a secure server with a stable connection.
- No intrusive interstitials: validating the accessibility of your website.
When is the Core Web Vitals update happening, and how will it affect my website?
These updates are occurring Summer 2021 and will impact roughly 1 in 10 queries, potentially changing the rank of those queries against competing content. What exactly does that mean for your website’s future? Your page’s rankings will likely change if you aren’t currently ranked on the first page of Google, or have generally low experience scores. Think you’re already at the top? Don’t be surprised if you lose a spot or two to a competitor—it’s possible that even your best landing pages will need to be re-optimized under this update.
For a quick gauge of what to expect (and to see how you measure up), visit your Core Web Vitals through Google Search Console and Google Pagespeed Insights. Here you’ll find the most up-to-date information on how your page’s performance is being assessed. These changes are only further evidence that it’s time to prioritize high-impact, relevant content to reach your audience. “Our systems will continue to prioritize pages with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar,” Google experts shared. “A good page experience doesn’t override having great, relevant content.”
If you’ve already built a library of valuable infographics, articles and landing pages, focus your time and energy on improving the
overall experience of your website.
What should I do next?
To cover the basics, bring these three questions to your next team meeting:
- Does our website and its content (including images or videos) load quickly?
- Does our website operate seamlessly on different devices?
- Is our website safe for browsing? Are there any potential red flags for a user?
For a more thorough analysis of your website, 10x digital can provide you with a free comprehensive technical site audit to determine specific areas of improvement for both content and functionality.
Based on our findings, we’ll build a strategy that both improves your website’s page experiences and generates hyper-targeted, relevant content for your audience. It may feel overwhelming to work with the Google search algorithm at first, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science. Reach out to our experts today and learn more about how you can maximize your website’s content and create meaningful conversions—let’s work together to elevate your digital experience.
10x can assess your web core vitals and address any other digital marketing needs. Just complete the contact form and we’ll be in touch in less than 24 hours to get started.
