Attention Recruiters: Google Page Experience Update for Desktop is Now Complete

Are you aware that the Google page experience update for desktop is now live? As you know, recruiters like you must always stay informed regarding the search giant’s algorithm updates to ensure compliance. Staying updated also helps you identify the steps you need to take to remain competitive and SEO-friendly. 

But what does Google’s latest search algorithm update mean for recruitment sites? 

Latest Algorithm Update from Google

Google has recently confirmed that it has finished rolling out its most recent algorithm update after first announcing it on February 22, 2022. The latest update reportedly includes all the existing signals of the page experience update for mobile except the mobile-friendliness ranking factor. 

The search giant has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to providing users with more accurate search results and a better online experience. The update reflects that, and it is one of the many measures Google has launched in recent years to stay true to its words. 

Google’s latest algorithm update encourages site owners to provide visitors with a better page experience. In a nutshell, page experience is a group of signals that allow Google to determine how users perceive the experience web pages can offer beyond their information value. It includes critical factors such as page loading speed, security, and the stability of page elements as they load. 

What Recruiters Must Know about the Google Page Experience Update

Beyond providing your web visitors with meaningful and valuable content, Google also takes into account your capability to offer quality user experience. Therefore, if you want to maintain a good search ranking, you should consider the following page experience factors: 

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

LCP measures a web page’s perceived loading speed by identifying the render time when the largest image or text block starts becoming visible. To ensure an excellent page experience for your visitors, your recruitment site should have its LCP occur within 2.5 seconds or less. 

2. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

It can be unpleasant for your web visitors when the text or other page elements start moving as they browse your site. Although you might think this is just a minor inconvenience, it can have severe repercussions. 

To ensure visual stability, see that your recruitment site has a CLS score of 0.1 or less. This would help prevent unexpected movement of text boxes and/or images that could result in poor user experience and, consequently, a lower search ranking. 

3. HTTPS Security

As someone who handles your clients’ personal information, you should switch to HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) if you haven’t done it already. Not only does it help you achieve a better Google ranking, but it also ensures the safety and integrity of your visitors’ data. 

4. Absence of intrusive interstitials

Commonly known as “pop-up ads”, intrusive interstitials are named as such because they occupy a significant area or all the visible parts of a web page and prevent users from viewing or accessing them. For this reason, you should eliminate or at least try to limit the number of intrusive pop-ups on your recruitment site to ensure compliance with Google’s latest algorithm update. 

Meanwhile, Google allows the following interstitials and using them on your site won’t affect page experience and your search ranking: 

• Interstitials for cookie usage
• Interstitials for age verification
• Interstitials that occupy a reasonable amount of space 

Page Experience is Just a Single Ranking Factor

Making the necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with the latest Google page experience update for desktop is well and good. However, our team here at Recruitment Traffic would like to remind you that page experience is just a single ranking factor. 

Google considers dozens of factors to verify a website’s search ranking. Even if your recruitment site offers top-notch page experience, this doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the best placement on search result pages. You should also factor in other site elements and take a holistic approach to SEO to achieve the best possible results. 

For example, you should provide web content that can aid candidates in their job search. Not only will this benefit a key segment of your target audience, but it also enables you to demonstrate your skill as a recruitment expert. Building quality backlinks and online citations is also essential to increase your online authority and visibility. 

Always Strive to Provide Better Page Experience

With its latest search algorithm update, Google has strengthened its commitment to providing web users with accurate search results and a better web browsing experience. Therefore, to ensure a better search ranking for your recruitment site, see that it is highly accessible and user-friendly. 

Do you want to make sure that your site complies with Google’s latest algorithm update? At Recruitment Traffic, our SEO and Google Ads specialists can help you provide a better user experience for your web visitors. Please contact us today, and we’ll create an SEO plan tailored to your recruitment firm.