What is Page Experience: Understanding the Impact on SEO and Usability

Page Experience is an increasingly important factor for websites, especially with respect to search engine rankings and user satisfaction. This concept refers to the set of signals that measure how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page beyond its informative value. As such, Page Experience includes aspects like load time, interactivity, and the stability of content as it loads, collectively influencing how engaging and user-friendly a website is.

We recognize that improving a website's Page Experience is a multifaceted task that intertwines web development, design, and user interface strategies. It markedly impacts not only how a site ranks in search engine results but also affects user retention and conversion rates. As behaviors and technologies evolve, we must continuously adapt to ensure that our sites meet the expectations and needs of our audience. The focus is ultimately on delivering a seamless and positive experience to users who visit our websites.

Key Takeaways

• Page Experience affects user satisfaction and search engine rankings.
• It encompasses load time, interactivity, and visual stability.
• Continuous adaptation is essential for a positive user experience.

Understanding Page Experience

Page experience is a set of signals that measure how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page beyond its informational value. This includes aspects like load time, interactivity, and the stability of the content as it loads.

Core Web Vitals

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading performance. To provide a good user experience, LCP should occur within 2.5 seconds of when the page first starts loading.

First Input Delay (FID): Measures interactivity. For a good user experience, pages should have an FID of 100 milliseconds or less.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures visual stability. Pages should maintain a CLS of 0.1. or less.

Mobile Usability

Ensures that pages are user-friendly on mobile devices. Key elements include:

• Readability: Text should be easily readable without zooming.
• Navigability: Sites must be easily navigable with touch controls.

Safe Browsing

Pages should not contain:

• Malicious software: Avoid software intended to harm or exploit.
• Social engineering content: The site should not trick users into doing something dangerous, such as revealing personal information or downloading software.

HTTPS Security

Encryption: Pages should be served over HTTPS to provide a secure connection.

• Data integrity: Ensured since third parties cannot tamper with data.
• Privacy: Keeps information private between the user and the site.

Improving Page Experience

To enhance a website's page experience, we must concentrate on user-centric performance metrics and the overall safety and functionality of the site.

Optimizing for Core Web Vitals

First Input Delay (FID): We ensure our pages are interactive and responsive. This means aiming for an FID of 100 milliseconds or less.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Our goal for LCP is to have the main content load within 2.5 seconds from when the page starts loading.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): We minimize unexpected layout shifts, with a target CLS score of less than 0.1.

Core Web Vital	Optimal Score
FID	100 milliseconds or less
LCP	2.5 seconds or less
CLS	0.1 or less

Enhancing Mobile Compatibility

We ensure our pages are fully functional on mobile devices. This includes using responsive design techniques and testing touch elements for appropriate spacing and size.

Ensuring Safe Navigation

Our pages do not contain malicious or deceptive content. We conduct regular audits to detect issues like phishing attempts or social engineering and remove them promptly.

Adopting HTTPS

We secure our website with HTTPS to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data exchanged between the user's device and our site. This is critical for all pages, not just those that handle sensitive information.