Countdown to May 18, 2019: Only a Few Days Left!
May 18, 2019, is fast approaching, and there is only a few days left. This is the date when Google will implement major changes to its search engine algorithms. Many website owners have been anticipating this day with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. They are concerned about how these changes will affect their website’s ranking and traffic.
As a website owner, you should be aware of these changes and take the necessary steps to ensure that your website is not affected negatively. In this article, we will discuss what these changes are and how you can prepare for them.
What are the changes?
Google has announced two major changes that will affect the way websites are ranked in its search engine results pages (SERPs).
1. Mobile-first Indexing
Google has been experimenting with mobile-first indexing for some time now. This means that it will use the mobile version of a website for ranking purposes instead of the desktop version. This is because more and more people are using their mobile devices to browse the internet. In fact, according to Statista, in 2018, 52.2% of all website traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones.
This change will not affect all websites. Those that have responsive design, where the layout of the website adjusts automatically based on the size of the screen, should not be affected. However, those websites that have separate mobile and desktop versions may experience some changes.
If your website has a separate mobile version, you should make sure that it has the same content as the desktop version. The mobile version should be fully functional and easy to navigate. You should also check if there are any technical issues that could affect the mobile version of your website.
2. Page speed
Page speed has always been an important factor in determining a website’s ranking in Google’s SERPs. However, from May 18, 2019, it will become even more important. Google has announced that it will be looking at the speed of a website’s mobile version when ranking it.
This means that if your website takes a long time to load on a mobile device, it could be penalized by Google. This could lead to a drop in ranking and traffic.
To ensure that your website is not affected by this change, you should test its page speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool. This tool will give you a score based on how fast your website loads and will also provide recommendations on how you can improve it.
How to prepare for the changes
To prepare for the changes, you should take the following steps:
1. Make your website mobile-friendly
If your website is not already mobile-friendly, you should make it so. This means that its layout should adjust automatically based on the size of the screen. You should also make sure that the mobile version of your website has the same content as the desktop version.
2. Check your website’s mobile version for any technical issues
You should check your website’s mobile version for any technical issues that could affect its performance. This includes checking for broken links, slow-loading images, and other issues that could affect its speed and functionality.
3. Test your website’s page speed
You should test your website’s page speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool. This will give you a score based on how fast your website loads and will also provide recommendations on how you can improve it.
4. Make necessary changes to improve your website’s page speed
Based on the recommendations provided by Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool, you should make necessary changes to improve your website’s page speed. This may include compressing images, minifying CSS and JavaScript files, and optimizing your website’s code.
5. Monitor your website’s ranking and traffic after May 18, 2019
After May 18, 2019, you should monitor your website’s ranking and traffic to see if there are any changes. If you notice a drop in ranking or traffic, you should investigate the cause and take necessary steps to improve it.
FAQs
1. Will my website be affected by the changes?
It depends on whether your website has a separate mobile and desktop version. If it does, you may be affected by the changes. If your website has a responsive design, where the layout adjusts automatically based on the size of the screen, you should not be affected.
2. How can I check if my website is mobile-friendly?
You can test your website’s mobile-friendliness using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool. This tool will tell you if your website is mobile-friendly or not and will also provide suggestions on how to improve it.
3. How can I test my website’s page speed?
You can test your website’s page speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool. This tool will give you a score based on how fast your website loads and will also provide recommendations on how to improve it.
4. Will improving my website’s page speed improve my ranking?
Improving your website’s page speed can improve its ranking, especially after May 18, 2019. Google has announced that it will be looking at the speed of a website’s mobile version when ranking it. This means that if your website takes a long time to load on a mobile device, it could be penalized by Google.
