Google today announced it plans to introduce “page experience” to the factors it considers while ranking search pages. It would also delete the AMP requirement that stories should be featured on mobile in the lead story. Google says the improvements will “help make the internet better for all.”
Web interaction can measure how consumers view the experience of engaging with a web page, according to the company. Google will take into account core Web Vitals, metrics measuring user experience, as well as existing signals such as mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, and HTTPS-security to decide page experience. The Core Web Vitals comprises of three real-world metrics related to speed (load time), responsiveness/interactivity, and website visual stability — like unintentionally press the wrong button because of a platform moving randomly.
Google said it “will give priority to pages with the best overall information,” but noted how outstanding performance is when there are multiple sites with similar content. The updated page speed indicators will be factored in the ranking of news that appears on the mobile website in the Top Stories carousel/list.
Google says the best content should be prioritized, and although it does away with the Top Stories AMP requirement in mobile, it will continue to help the framework and connect to AMP sites as they are available.
Google acknowledges that the changes will take some to become used to. It says it won’t roll them out until next year, and it will give notice for at least six months. Additionally, it aims to allow users plenty of time to plan, and it has revised its developer resources to help site owners get a head start, like Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights.
