The Google Speed Update Is Now Being Rolled Out
In January 2018, Google announced a new algorithm change called the Speed Update. On July 9th, they started rolling out this update. The experts at Saba SEO, a leading SEO company in San Diego, discuss the key features of the latest Google update.
Page speed has been a ranking factor for desktop searches since 2010. With the Speed Update, mobile page speed is now a ranking factor in mobile search results. However, the algorithm change only affects a small percentage of pages. Those that deliver the slowest user experience will be negatively affected by the update, and sites that have fast-loading pages should see no difference at all.
Although there is a need for developers to increase their site speeds, slow mobile pages may not always rank poorly after this algorithm update. According to Google employees Zhiheng Wang and Doantam Phan, “The intent of a search query is still a very strong signal, so a slow page may still rank highly if it has great, relevant content.”
In case your site has slow page speeds, the best thing you can do is increase them. One of the easiest ways to speed up your mobile pages is to minimize your server response time, which you can accomplish by upgrading your web server software or improving the quality of your web hosting service. You should also minimize redirects, which automatically bring visitors from one page to another and slow down your page loading time.
As always, it’s still important to focus on other SEO factors as well, like keywords and links. Even if your pages load slowly, you may still rank well if your content is helpful, informative, and appealing to your site visitors.
If Google considers your pages to be fast, you shouldn’t have a problem. However, Google doesn’t specify exactly how they determine page speed. The Chrome User Experience report, the PageSpeed Insights tool, and the Lighthouse tool can all be helpful for determining your page speeds and deciding whether or not you need to make any changes.
Search engine rankings are always in a state of flux, and they are often impacted by Google updates. When it comes to SEO and other types of internet marketing, San Diego businesses and companies all over the world trust Saba SEO. We are a leading search engine optimization agency with over ten years of experience in digital marketing. Our experts stay up to date with the latest Google updates and offer out-of-the-box solutions to boost your online visibility. Whether you need a review of your existing marketing plan or a new strategy altogether, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.
