As any digital marketing expert knows, SEO (search engine optimization) is a key factor in any digital strategy. Search engines, like Google, use a website’s SEO to rank the site on their page. For example, when a user Googles “doggy daycare,” the first link they see is notably reputable. This means that Google has inspected the website for keywords, quality content, and relevance to the search terms. Most users will click one of the first few links. That is why SEO is so important for a successful website.
SEO includes keywords, content incorporating those keywords, and links leading back to content. Google’s algorithm, or ways in which it measures the SEO of a website, is a crucial piece of information for digital strategists.
User Experience
Google is set to release a new algorithm in May 2021. The update will include “Page Experience,” a new implementation that essentially measures the user experience (UX) of every page of a website. This will rate a website based on several UX reference points. The site will need to be mobile-friendly (meaning easy to use from a smartphone or tablet). It will also need to be safe to browse, visually steady, and load quickly.
To put it simply, the website needs to work properly and seamlessly. If anything about it would irritate a user, it will not rank well. That means no crazy page transitions, long loading times, or “Not Secure” pages.
How do I make the necessary changes?
One of the biggest annoyances on the web is slow loading speed. The Internet has made humans into a species that demands haste. We need it, and we need it now. Businesses can use this to their advantage by performing a website audit and ensuring fast load speeds and few 404 errors. If your website loads within three seconds and has very few broken links, you’re in good shape.
Google’s new algorithm will be focused on the user experience of each page. Another way to test your ranking is to simply go through your website and see how easy it is to use and navigate. If you have buttons that don’t work properly, or design issues that cause problems, you will want to fix those.
Our advice is: have one or two people you know (who do not commonly visit your website) go through your entire site and write down anything that makes their experience less pleasant and easy. A fresh set of eyes can tell you everything you need to know about UX on your site.
If this all seems overwhelming or you don’t know where to start, schedule a call with us. We can crawl your site for any technical issues and help you make all the necessary fixes so your site stays at the top!
