The 2021 Google algorithm update is nearly here. Google is notorious for its lack of warning when it comes to algorithm updates. In the case of the 2021 page experience update, big announcements have been made which suggest big changes are on the horizon. Initial announcements were made way back in March of 2020 with the official roll out date made for May 2021. It is extremely important that businesses understand these changes and ensure they are able to adapt before the update is rolled out. The sooner the required changes are addressed, the less likely businesses will see a drop in SERP rankings.
In a nutshell the new update will make page speed and page experience the primary ranking factor. Page speed has always been a ranking factor, however, over time it has become more and more important as Google recognise user demand for speed. Google has referred to this update as the page experience update using new core web vitals to rank websites. These new core web vitals are Loading (Largest contentful paint), Interactivity (First Input Delay), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift).
Cumulative layout shift
This is the unexpected movement of the elements and content on your webpage whilst the page is still downloading. As part of the page experience update, Google recommend a cumulative layout shift of less than 0.1 for 75% of page loads.
First input delay
This is the measurement of time from when a user first interacts with your page i.e. clicks a link, to when the browser is able to respond to that request. Google recommend a first input delay of under 100 milliseconds for 75% of page loads.
Largest content paint
This is a measurement to determine when the largest element or piece of content in the viewport becomes visible to the end user. It is primarily used to determine when the main content of the page has finished rendering on the screen. Google recommend a largest content paint of under 2.5 seconds for 75% of page loads.
There has also been emphasis placed on safe-browsing, moving from Http to Https, optimising pages for mobile, and the reduction in intrusive interstitials such as pop-ups.
Although the new core web vitals sound complex to keep track of there is an easy solution that requires no knowledge of web development. This solution is Google Search Console. Formerly Google Webmaster Tools, you are now able to analyse how your core web vitals are performing all from within the Google Search Console dashboard. Google have now introduced a core web vitals tab allowing you to keep track of how your pages are performing and ensure your measurements are inline with the above recommendations. Remember, ensure you make the necessary changes before the update is rolled out to avoid any unexpected drops in your rankings.