Recently, Google announced an updated core algorithm that they say will improve the quality of search results. But while the update may be good for searchers, it could be bad for website owners.
This algorithm change relies heavily on the concept of “vitality”. In a nutshell, Google is looking to rank websites that are both fresh and engaging for users. So if your website is stale or doesn’t offer a great user experience, you could see a decline in your SEO.
In this article, we’ll explain what the core web vital algorithm is and how it could hurt your SEO. We’ll also offer some tips on how to stay ahead of the curve and keep your website ranking high.
Are the Core Web Vitals?
You’ve probably heard about Google’s Core Web Vitals or CWV for short. It’s the new algorithm that the company is using to rank websites. And while it’s still in beta, there are already a lot of people who are worried about how it will impact their SEO.
CWV is all about transparency and giving users the best possible experience. That means that slow websites that have broken links or are difficult to navigate are going to be penalized. And that could mean a significant drop in traffic for a lot of businesses.
CWV consists of three measurements of page stability, speed and user interactivity:
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
- First Input Delay (FID)
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
The good news is that there’s still time to make changes and improve your website’s ranking. But you need to act fast because CWV is already being rolled out across the globe.
Is the Core Web Vitals Algorithm Update Affecting Your SEO?
Google’s Core Web Vitals algorithm is designed to keep spammy or low-quality websites from ranking high in search engine results pages (SERPs). And while that’s a good thing overall, it can also hurt your website’s SEO if you’re not in compliance.
That’s because the Core Web Vitals algorithm takes into account several factors when determining a website’s rank, including website speed, mobile friendliness, and security. And if your website doesn’t meet Google’s standards in any of these areas, you’re at risk of being penalized.
So what can you do to make sure your website complies? You need to make sure your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure. And if you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with an SEO specialist. They can help you identify any areas of your website that need improvement and help you get back in Google’s good graces.
4 Ways to Improve Your Core Web Vitals
You’ll want to make sure that your website’s core web vital algorithm is as healthy as possible. So, you can improve your score quickly.
- Make sure your website is up to date. Having the latest security patches and software updates is critical, as is using a modern, responsive design.
- Optimize your website for speed. Make sure all of your images are properly compressed and that you’re using a caching plugin to minimize load times.
- Use high-quality content. This is one of the most important factors in determining your core web vital score. Make sure all of your articles are well-written and informative, and that you’re using images and videos to break up the text.
- Use social media to promote your content. Getting active on Twitter and Facebook can help you reach a wider audience and drive traffic back to your website.
How Can You Track Your Core Web Vitals?
3 Ways to Track Your Core Web Vital Stats
- Through your website’s analytics program. This will give you data on your website’s traffic, including where your visitors are coming from, what pages they’re visiting, and how long they’re staying on your site.
- By using Google’s Search Console. This will help you identify any errors on your website that might be affecting your SEO, as well as how your website ranks in Google search results.
- By using a tool like Moz. Moz offers a wide range of tools to help you track your website’s SEO progress, including a crawl report that will show you how well your website is performing against specific search engine ranking factors.