Google’s new algorithm: Page Experience.
It boils down to three indicators:
- 1. Page load time - the time it takes for the main content to appear
- 2. Page interaction time - how long between the user clicks or taps and the page reacts
- 3. Visual stability - how clear the decision path is to the user
Let’s use a real world metaphor. Imagine you want to buy a dictionary from a book shop.
OK, clearly, this is a real world example.
You turn up onsite ready to purchase only there’s no way-finding signage, they haven’t gotten round to unpacking and categorising their stock yet - the store is stuffed wall to wall with dictionaries, thesauruses, books about books (meta!) and other words for these books (like wordyword thing, story rectangle and ‘the inedible paper sandwich), there’s no one there to help you, it’s a real maze, so much so you can’t find your way to the checkout or the end of this sentence.
OK, but what's the moral of this story? Even if your website is jam packed with all the right content, it won't convert to sales with a crappy user experience.
Google wants the best experience for its users.