May 2021 Page Experience Update

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  1. Holly Howard profile image94
    Holly Howardposted 3 years ago

    Hey, who's been reading up on this and what are your predictions for this update? Any word from the HP team about how they foresee this going down? I know we're all affected by core updates throughout the year but this is the first one that I feel like we've had a heads up about in a while.

    https://neilpatel.com/blog/google-page-experience/

    1. bravewarrior profile image83
      bravewarriorposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      If the new algorithm is based on user experience, I hope HP/Maven does something about the multitude of ads and videos that pop up as the user is trying to read. They are annoying and counterproductive. Users leave the page when they are bombarded with obstacles. Maybe now HP/Maven will listen to what we've been saying about the ads and videos.

    2. NateB11 profile image84
      NateB11posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Good info, thanks. I agree with others, ads here are a little worrisome, the one at the top of articles is intrusive. However, generally the network sites are pretty good. Seem navigable to me.

  2. Kierstin Gunsberg profile image96
    Kierstin Gunsbergposted 3 years ago

    I'm wondering about alt-text. Anyone know if it's a good idea for user experience?

  3. Holly Howard profile image94
    Holly Howardposted 3 years ago

    I haven't seen too much issue with the ads, however the video at the top that follows the reader on niche sites seems like it could be problematic with this update.

  4. PaulGoodman67 profile image94
    PaulGoodman67posted 3 years ago

    As overall, things have been going pretty well since the start of this year, I do have some trepidation regarding the upcoming algo change. It feel like things can only get worse! Hehe!

    Of course, Google hasn't said much other than the typical "user experience" blurb. I didn't really learn much from that Patel link either, it seemed like a fairly basic overview.

    I guess we just wait and see, and hope Maven/HP have done their homework and prep. They are usually good at thinking and planning ahead. The switchover to the new niche sites went well, so fingers crossed...

    1. lobobrandon profile image77
      lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      The multiple H1 change that was suggested is still not implemented, so I do not know if they have things under control when a simple thing such as that takes months.

      But as you say traffic is good. Let's see what happens.

  5. Rupert Taylor profile image96
    Rupert Taylorposted 3 years ago

    "Optimizing the user experience" is a phrase that I loathe. It always seems to carry a hidden subtext that involves "optimizing the vendor's profits."

    I plodded through the linked article - well just parts of it actually - because it might as well have been written in Sanskrit for all the sense I made of it.

    If Google is going to punish poor quality then HP ought to take a serious look at its Discover brand. I thought it was to be a repository for superior articles, but I see some awful content there, that should never have passed QAP.

    Go to your happy place Rupe.

    1. wilderness profile image89
      wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  That phrase, or other wording meaning the same, has been used for years by Google.  And every time it did somehow HP took a big hit, whereupon they would work to fit into the new "user experience" as defined but not publicized by Google.  Wash, rinse and repeat as soon as HP traffic recovered.

      If history is any indication we can expect traffic to fall somewhere around 50%.

  6. PaulGoodman67 profile image94
    PaulGoodman67posted 3 years ago

    According to SEO Roundtable, the "May" update is delayed and will happen June through to August. See link below if interested.

    Google Page Experience Update Is Not Launching In May 2021

    1. Em Clark profile image87
      Em Clarkposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Oh wow, good to know, Paul!

    2. OldRoses profile image66
      OldRosesposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Oh great, right in the middle of the gardening season when I normally get the most traffic.  If this update seriously reduces traffic, it will be a disaster for those of us who write about gardening.

      1. lobobrandon profile image77
        lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        Yeah. Right when the numbers are the highest.

        1. PaulGoodman67 profile image94
          PaulGoodman67posted 3 years agoin reply to this

          Historically, they normally save the worst updates for the run-up to Christmas in my experience. big_smile

          Seriously though, much of the Google assaults used to be related to Amazon-orientated hubs (even if they brought down the rest of site in the process). I would hope that any Amazon hubs pass the muster nowadays. I mean, HP have become very strict on that sort of thing.

          HP's weakest point nowadays, I would say, is maybe the quality of the content, people giving bad information. It's a particular issue for medical matters, but can also potentially affect other niches like Owlcation, Dengarden, etc. That said, bad info is a problem of the internet generally ("fake news" etc.). An article can have perfect spelling, grammar, be well structured and laid out, and look beautiful, but still be flawed.

  7. eugbug profile image95
    eugbugposted 3 years ago

    Does anyone find that images always seem to be slow to load on mobile devices connected to WIFI? Maybe it's just that my phone is slow. I don't have the same issue on laptop. Also that video at the start of articles follows the reader down the page and appears as a bar across the screen. The close "x" is hard to see too.

    1. NateB11 profile image84
      NateB11posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes I've also noticed images loading slowly, and on my desktop. I also agree that the video at the start basically becomes intrusive.

    2. Holly Howard profile image94
      Holly Howardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Hmmm images load just fine for me on my phone/WiFi. It could be a localized internet issue too.

      1. eugbug profile image95
        eugbugposted 3 years agoin reply to this

        It takes about 5 to 6 seconds for images to load within articles and 12 seconds for article thumbnails to when I view a sub-category on a site.

 
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