Google Core Algorithm Update: Unveiling Core Web Vitals and Their Impact in May 2021

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Are you ready for the Core Google Algorithm change?

Here we introduce the Core Web Vitals coming in May 2021.

Google is introducing a new ranking signal, which combines Core Web Vitals with existing user experience signals, to improve the way it evaluates the overall experience provided by a page.

It’s undeniable that this is going to take work, for in-house marketing teams and agencies it’s essential we get this right to retain existing rankings and ensure future success.

To help site owners prepare, Google has provided an early look at the work being done so far.

Let’s dive in and see what you can do to prepare for this latest evolution in the search algorithm.

What is Core Web Vitals?

Google believes that every web owner should be able to understand and measure the quality of the experience users are receiving on the site. This one of the reasons why they have simplified the process by creating Web Core Vitals.

Web Core Vitals are different factors and metrics that Google considers important to a site’s user experience. Each Core Web Vital will be constantly evolving, but for 2021 it will focus on loading, interactivity, and visual stability.

With all this in mind, we should not forget that there are still other vital signs we need to take care of (as shown in the picture below):

 

Google’s Core Web Vitals to Become Ranking Signals

Google: Core Web Vitals Explained Further

What will the core web vitals update be measuring?

Core Web Vitals, introduced earlier this month, are a set of metrics related to speed, responsiveness, and visual stability.

Google has defined these as the Core Web Vitals:

  • Largest Contentful Paint: The time it takes for a page’s main content to load. An ideal LCP measurement is 2.5 seconds or faster.
  • First Input Delay: The time it takes for a page to become interactive. An ideal measurement is less than 100 ms.
  • Cumulative Layout Shift: The amount of unexpected layout shift of visual page content. An ideal measurement is less than 0.1.

Google’s Core Web Vitals to Become Ranking Signals

As Google puts it:

“Core Web Vitals are a set of real-world, user-centered metrics that quantify key aspects of the user experience. They measure dimensions of web usability such as load time, interactivity, and the stability of content as it loads (so you don’t accidentally tap that button when it shifts under your finger – how annoying!)”

When is the Core Web Vitals Update Happening?

Google will make Core Web Vitals be part of the Search Algorithm starting in May 2021.

Google Core Web Vitals Update – Will this affect me?

It’s our opinion that a site that only just “fails” will not result in your website being removed entirely from Google. This will be limited to the absolute worst offenders.

However, if you do absolutely nothing one of two things will most likely happen:

  • Your rankings will drop below competitors who have a better score than you.
  • Your rankings will increase slightly as competitors ahead of you have a poorer score.

It’s worth keeping the above graph in mind. When Google asks websites to change they usually do.

In our experience, most scores can be improved fairly easily but it’s best to prepare for them in advance rather than having to fix them later.

Why is it important to prepare your website?

By doing SEO, we are not only looking into staying ahead of the competition, diminishing the negative effects of Google updates, and increasing organic visibility, but we are also focusing on user experience.

Our incredible SEO efforts played a major part in generating over £48 Million in online revenue for clients last year. We are also delighted to be recognized internationally as a leading SEO Company by Forbes. This should be enough to show you that as a leading digital marketing agency, we take SEO very seriously.

Finally…

Remember at the core of this is Google looking after itself: frustrated and unhappy users are less likely to spend time online. Google’s domination of the search engine market (despite the efforts of competitors) means the less time users spend online = the fewer time users spend on Google = the less money Google makes.

Would you like us to work with you on your SEO campaign or run an audit on your website? Contact our team.

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