.webp "Is Your Website Ready for the Upcoming Changes in SERP Ranking?")
Is Your Website Ready for the Upcoming Changes in SERP Ranking?
Search engine optimization or SEO is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy. It helps businesses get noticed by potential customers, increase website traffic, and improve overall online visibility. However, SEO is not a one-time effort. It requires continuous monitoring and adaptation to the ever-changing algorithms of search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. One such change is the upcoming updates in SERP ranking. So, is your website ready for it?
What are the upcoming changes in SERP ranking?
Google has recently announced that it will be rolling out a new ranking algorithm update called the Page Experience Update in May 2021. This update will prioritize websites that provide a better user experience by focusing on five key metrics:
- Mobile-friendliness
- Page load speed
- Safe browsing
- HTTPS security
- Intrusive interstitials
These metrics are collectively known as Core Web Vitals and will be used to evaluate the user experience of a website. Websites that score high on these metrics are more likely to rank higher in search engine result pages (SERPs).
How can you prepare your website for the changes?
Now that you know what the upcoming changes in SERP ranking are, it’s time to prepare your website for it. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Improve mobile-friendliness
With more people using their mobile devices to browse the internet than ever before, it’s crucial to have a mobile-friendly website. You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check if your website is mobile-friendly. If it’s not, you can make changes like using a responsive design, optimizing images, and using a mobile-friendly font.
2. Optimize page load speed
Page load speed is another crucial factor in user experience. A slow-loading website can frustrate users and lead to high bounce rates. You can use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to check your website’s page load speed and get suggestions for improvement. Some common ways to improve page load speed include optimizing images, minimizing HTTP requests, and using a content delivery network (CDN).
3. Ensure safe browsing
Google wants to ensure that users are safe while browsing the internet. Therefore, websites that are safe for users to browse will rank higher in SERPs. You can use Google’s Security Issues report in Google Search Console to check if your website has any security issues. Some common security issues include malware, phishing, and unwanted software.
4. Switch to HTTPS
HTTPS encryption ensures that users’ data is secure while browsing your website. Websites that use HTTPS encryption will rank higher in SERPs than those that don’t. You can switch to HTTPS by purchasing an SSL certificate and configuring your website to use HTTPS.
5. Avoid intrusive interstitials
Intrusive interstitials are pop-ups, banners, or other ads that block the main content of a website. They can be frustrating for users and can negatively impact user experience. Google will penalize websites that use intrusive interstitials by ranking them lower in SERPs. Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid them or use them sparingly.
Conclusion
The upcoming changes in SERP ranking are an opportunity for website owners to improve their user experience and rank higher in search engine result pages. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can prepare your website for these changes and ensure that your website is providing the best user experience possible. Remember, SEO is an ongoing effort, and it’s crucial to continuously monitor and adapt to changes in search engine algorithms.