Is it really February of 2022 already? Wow, everything is moving along so fast, just like the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). As we all know, something is always changing, updating or just being reinvented. With these constant changes in the algorithms, new trends, tactics and practices and ever-evolving technology; the task of keeping up-to-date with SEO can sometimes be a little overwhelming, specially if you’re not on top of it every single day.
But that’s what we are here for! You’ve come to the right place at CBmarketing to get all your SEO news, tips and updates. All conveniently sorted into this series of blog posts for you to read!
Let’s talk about Google’s Page Experience update for their Core Web Vitals section on the Google Search Console. Google has informed us that the update for the desktop version of Google’s Page Experience is just around the corner with plans for the update to go live this month (February 2022). The update will bring all of the current ranking signals of the mobile version of the Page Experience.
Overall; Google has told us not to worry. As the desktop Page Experience update will not have any big and/or significant impact on Google’s search results.
So, what does the Page Experience update actually bring and when can we expect the update to come out? The February Google Page Experience has already started to roll out (by mid-February 2022) and is expected to finish rolling out within the first half of March.
Experts online have advised that webmasters should be focusing more on their desktop websites for the time being in order to really take advantage of the timing of the update.
1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Helps you measure the time it takes for the largest content element on the site to load on the screen
2. First Input Delay (FID) – Measures the time it takes for the site to react to its first visitor interaction
3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures the overall visual stability of the page
4. No Intrusive Interstitials – Involves the accessibility of content to the users
5. HTTPS Security – Safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of information and data between websites and various browsers
Continuing on the topic of Core Web Vitals; it has already been stated by Google’s Search Advocate John Mueller himself on their frequent Google Search Central SEO office-hours hangout; that having good Core Web Vitals Scores won’t improve your Indexing.
It was often asked by webmasters but has only just been recently confirmed that striving and having good Core Web Vitals scores won’t necessarily lead to better and improved indexing of your webpages in Google’s search results, or at least not good Core Web Vitals.
This is due to the fact that Core Web Vitals are are inherently used as ranking factors and are not quality factors. Thus focusing on trying to raise the scores in order to get a better indexing is somewhat futile.
For those that want to look further into Core Web Vitals, searchenginejournal has done a great job with their article on it here: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-good-core-web-vitals-scores-wont-improve-indexing/438290/
On a related note. If you are looking to improve your Core Web Vitals score, I’ve found a fantastic guide and in-depth review all about Core Web Vitals here from smashingmagazine: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2021/12/core-web-vitals-case-study-smashing-magazine/
More on updates; the Vicinity Update.
It first began at the end of November of 2021 and finally fully rolled out on December 8th. The vicinity update was supposed to be a “rebalancing” of local ranking factors, but Google did not actually announce the update until 16th December 2021.
So, what was the vicinity update all about? Obviously vicinity, but more specifically; Google has given proximity and vicinity more of a prominent factor when it comes to local search rankings.
Basically, the closer a business is to a searching user, than the more prominence that business gets. Easy and Simple.
Sterlingsky.ca has done a terrific job of going into further detail regarding the vicinity update, having done their own analysis and research. It is even dubbed as Google’s largest local algorithm update in recent years. You can read (and I actually really recommend you read this article) here by Joy Hawkins at sterlingsky.ca.
Our November 2021 local search update has concluded. It began Nov 30 and ran through Dec 8. It involved a rebalancing of various factors we consider in generating local search results. General guidance for businesses remains the same as covered here: https://t.co/uyXFfmUEIR
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) December 16, 2021
Stay tuned for more SEO News Bulletins, where we help you find out about under the radar updates, such as the vicinity update. Stay frosty and happy SEOing!
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