Algorithm updates and what they mean for your SEO.
You may have heard - since it’s been EVERYWHERE - Google has updated its algorithm again. That’s 6 updates in just 3 months! The most recent updates are being rolled out to counteract spam, as well as core adjustments to the search engine algorithms and systems. This means that the way that you optimise your web page to make sure it can be found by Google has changed too.
Don’t panic! Here at Ketchup, our experts are up-to-date on these changes, and will continue to make sure that any SEO service we do for you is still the best it can be - even with the rules of play changing!
What’s changing?
Without getting too technical, the main topic of the alterations to the algorithm is within the realm of user experience (UX). It has become a ranking factor, which means it’s something that needs to be taken into account while adjusting your page to make it SEO-friendly. There are more changes afoot, so don’t be alarmed if your rankings change!
There are 3 key elements to UX that you need to remember:
- Loading speed. If your page takes too long to load, customers won’t want to wait around to see it. Google doesn’t like this!
- First Input Delay - What it says on the tin! How long it takes for a user to interact with the page - this can be clicking something or even just scrolling.
- Cumulative Layout Shift - This relates to how much the elements of your web page move around while loading or scrolling - if things stay still then page viewers aren’t chasing buttons!
There are a few other points that are more intuitive, but these three are the Core Web Vitals and making sure you do well with these will take care of most of the others by proxy.
How will I know if my site is affected by the latest algorithm update?
You probably won’t know unless you look in the right places - like Google Analytics and other website activity trackers. These give you lots of lovely measurements about how your site is doing from a search engine’s perspective - rankings, visitors and click-through rates galore!
By keeping an eye on these statistics you’ll be able to tell if your site is coping well with the algorithm switch-up, or if it needs a little help.
What does this mean for me?
Overall, the main point is that your web pages need to work well and continue to be visible. However, there’s no need to worry - your SEO team at Ketchup will ensure your site continues to be optimised during this period of change; especially considering these changes fall alongside approximately 200 other ranking factors that Google uses!
How do I even begin?
It’s important to understand that if you feel a little bamboozled by all the technical jargon, one thing is certainly true - you are not alone! Not sure you can combat these changes on your own? Don’t fret! Give Ketchup a call and ask us about our Free SEO Audits and SEO Packages. Let the experts take care of it.