How to optimize for Google’s Page Experience update for technical SEO

Google’s Page Experience update is a major change to the way the search engine ranks websites. The update, which is set to roll out in May 2021, will take into account a number of factors related to the user experience (UX) of a website, such as loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and the presence of intrusive interstitials. In this blog post, we will explain the various factors that will be considered as part of the Page Experience update, and provide some tips for optimizing your website for this update.

1. Speed: Speed is perhaps the most important factor in the Page Experience update. Google wants to ensure that users can access information quickly and easily, and slow-loading websites will be penalized. To optimize your website’s speed, you can:

• Compress images and other media files
• Minimize the use of third-party scripts and code
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
• Optimize your website’s code and structure

2. Mobile-friendliness: With the majority of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s essential that your website is optimized for mobile users. Google will be checking for mobile-friendliness as part of the Page Experience update, so make sure that your website is responsive and can be easily navigated on a smaller screen. To optimize your website for mobile users, you can:

• Use a responsive web design
• Use a mobile-specific design
• Minimize the use of pop-ups and interstitials

3. Interstitials: Interstitials are pop-ups and overlays that can be disruptive to the user experience. Google has stated that it will penalize websites that use intrusive interstitials, so it’s important to be cautious when using them. If you must use an interstitial, make sure it’s used sparingly, and that it does not impede the user’s ability to access the content they are looking for.
4. Safe-browsing: Websites that are marked as unsafe by Google will be penalized. Google checks for a number of factors to determine if a website is safe, such as the presence of malware or phishing, and will flag websites that do not meet its criteria. To optimize your website for safe-browsing, you can:

• Keep your website’s code and software up to date
• Use a security certificate
• Regularly scan your website for vulnerabilities

5. HTTPS: Google has stated that it will give preference to websites that use HTTPS. HTTPS encrypts the data that is transmitted between the user’s browser and the website’s server, making it more difficult for hackers to steal sensitive information. To optimize your website for HTTPS, you can:

• Obtain an SSL certificate
• Enable HTTP/2
• Minimize the use of mixed content

6. Core Web Vitals : Google’s Core Web Vitals are metrics that measure the loading performance, speed, and visual stability of a website. These metrics are closely tied to user experience, and Google will begin to consider them as part of the Page Experience update. To optimize your website for Core Web Vitals, you can:

• Minimize the size of your images
• Minimize the use of third-party scripts
• Reduce the time it takes for your website to first paint
• Ensure that your website’s layout is stable and does not change after it has loaded

7. Schema Markup : It is a way of organizing data on a webpage to make it more understandable for search engines. This can help search engines to better understand the structure of the content of your webpage, and to display it in a more user-friendly format in the search results. This can be done
8. by implementing Schema Markup on your website. This can be done by adding structured data to your website’s HTML code, using a vocabulary such as JSON-LD, RDFa or microdata. This will help search engines understand the different types of content on your website, such as products, reviews, and events, and to display that information in a more meaningful way in the search results.
9. In conclusion, Google’s Page Experience update is a significant change to the way the search engine ranks websites, and it’s important for website owners to understand the factors that will be considered as part of the update. By focusing on speed, mobile-friendliness, interstitials, safe-browsing, HTTPS, Core Web Vitals and Schema Markup, you can optimize your website and improve its rankings in the search results. Keep in mind, the page experience optimization is not a one time task, but a continuous process to keep up with the best practices and technology advancements.

8. Accessibility: Accessibility is another important aspect of user experience, and it is something that Google will be taking into account as part of the Page Experience update. Websites that are accessible to users with disabilities, such as those who use screen readers or have difficulty using a mouse, will be given a higher ranking than those that are not. To make your website more accessible, you can:

• Use clear and simple language
• Provide text alternatives for non-text content
• Ensure that your website’s functionality can be operated using a keyboard
• Use high-contrast colors to make text more legible
• Provide captioning and transcripts for audio and video content

9. E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) are factors that Google has always considered as part of its ranking algorithm. However, with the Page Experience update, these factors will become more important than ever before. To improve your website’s E-A-T, you can:

• Use high-quality, well-researched content
• Provide information about your qualifications or credentials on your website
• Include customer reviews or testimonials
• Create a “About Us” page that provides information about your business or organization

10. Monitoring and testing: The final tip for optimizing your website for the Page Experience update is to monitor and test your website regularly. Use tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website’s performance, and make changes as needed. Additionally, use tools like Lighthouse to test your website’s speed, accessibility, and other factors, and make improvements as needed.

Overall, the Page Experience update is a significant change to the way that Google ranks websites, and it’s important for website owners to take it into account when optimizing their sites. By focusing on speed, mobile-friendliness, interstitials, safe-browsing, HTTPS, Core Web Vitals, Schema Markup, Accessibility and E-A-T, and monitoring and testing, you can improve your website’s performance in the search results and provide a better experience for your users. Remember, SEO is a continuous process, so don’t forget to stay up-to-date with the newest trends and best practices, as well as making changes accordingly.

11. Content Optimization: One of the most important factors in SEO is content. It’s important to make sure that your website’s content is relevant, high-quality, and well-organized. As part of the Page Experience update, Google will be looking for content that is well-written and easy to read, as well as content that is structured in a logical manner. To optimize your website’s content, you can:

• Use headings and subheadings to break up text and make it more readable
• Use bullet points and lists to make information easy to digest
• Include images and other media to make content more engaging
• Use internal linking to help users navigate your website
• Optimize your website’s title tags and meta descriptions to make them more compelling and informative

12. Structured data: As mentioned earlier, structured data is a way of marking up your website’s content so that search engines can understand it better. Using structured data can help search engines to understand the relationships between different pieces of content on your website, and to display that information in a more meaningful way in the search results. Some examples of structured data that can be implemented on your website include:

• Organization schema: This is used to provide information about your business or organization, such as contact details, address, and hours of operation.
• Product schema: This is used to provide information about products or services that you offer, such as pricing, availability, and reviews.
• Event schema: This is used to provide information about upcoming events, such as dates, locations, and ticket prices.

13. User behavior signals: Google will take into account how users interact with your website. User behavior signals like click-through rate, bounce rate, and time on page, can give an idea of how relevant and useful your website is to users. Optimize your website based on these user behaviors:

• Make sure that your website’s content is easy to read and understand
• Use a clear and logical navigation structure
• Include calls to action to encourage users to take action on your website
• Use A/B testing to improve the performance of your website

14. Monitor your competitors: A great way to identify areas for improvement on your website is to monitor your competitors. Use tools such as SEMrush and Ahrefs to gain insights into what your competitors are doing well, and where they might be falling short. This information can help you to identify opportunities to improve your own website and to stand out in the search results.

Overall, optimizing your website for the Page Experience update is essential for achieving good rankings in Google’s search results. By focusing on factors such as speed, mobile-friendliness, interstitials, safe-browsing, HTTPS, Core Web Vitals, Schema Markup, accessibility, E-A-T, monitoring and testing, content optimization, structured data, user behavior signals, and monitoring your competitors, you can improve your website’s performance and provide a better experience for your users. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process and keeping your website up-to-date with the latest best practices is key for long-term success.