Google is soon to release an important update in its algorithm meaning you may need a website audit. This new page experience update will affect all websites so it’s crucial that you prepare beforehand as you may soon see a huge drop in the number of visitors to your site.

What is an on-page experience?

Google describes the on-page experience as ‘the way users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page. Optimizing these factors makes the page more user-friendly across all browsers and surfaces of the web’

Basically, how easy it is to use and navigate around your website? Visitors are more likely to interact with websites that are easy to navigate. You may find it far easier than new visitors because you know your way around, that is why a website audit will give you a fair evaluation.

What does the new Google update mean?

Google will now be ranking websites at the top of the results page that is user-friendly. Although there are many other contributing factors that you need to optimize for in order to rank higher on the SERP page, it’s essential that you get your website up-to-speed with on-page experience so you don’t fall back in site traffic.

What factors contribute to a great on-page experience?

On-page experience is all about how users interact with your website and their whole experience that is beyond just the information that’s on there. What Google will be looking at to determine the page experience is loading time, interactivity, visual stability, whether it’s mobile-friendly, safe to browse, contains a HTTPS, and whether the content on the site is easy to access.

How do I prepare my website for the new update?

The key element is Google Search Console. If you don’t already, I highly recommend that you create an account here because it will really help you in optimizing your website. It might take some time for the data to aggregate, but once it does you’ll have a clear report of your website’s performance.

If you look on the left-hand side navigation you will see ‘Core Web Vitals.’ In there you’ll find all the issues you need to fix for both mobile and desktop devices. ‘Open Report’ for more details on what needs to be done.

Another thing you should do is run a website audit, which will give you a more comprehensive review of your site’s overall performance.

What is a website audit?

To put it simply, a website audit is an evaluation that provides a wealth of information and identifies any issues that prevent your website from ranking higher on the SERP page. It’s the most powerful task you can undertake to increase your user experience and generate higher search visibility.

Why do I need a website audit?

Google’s algorithm has changed a lot over the years, and it will continue to do so. A website audit should be done frequently, a good rule of thumb is once per quarter because it will help you respond to the fast-changing world of SEO. By keeping your website up-to-date with the latest SEO changes and Google updates you will stay on top of your competition and a higher ranking website will drive more traffic as well as conversions.

How do I get a website audit done?

There are many resources online that will explain how you can carry out a website audit. But it will be a lot of hard work for anyone who is not familiar with the metrics. A professional will not only do an amazing and accurate job but will also talk you through analyzing plainly the data and give clear instructions on what needs to be done. So you won’t be left wondering what all the data means how to fix any problems.

Click here for a website audit.