Google has decided to no longer use mobile-friendliness, page speed, secure sites, and page experience as ranking factors.
On April 21, 2023, Google made an announcement stating that it has just revised its documented ranking systems page by deleting four ranking systems from the list. This change was one of the updates that the company had made. The Page Experience System, the Mobile-Friendly Ranking System, the Page Speed System, and the Secure Sites System are some of the systems that fall under this category. This modification represents a substantial adjustment to the method by which Google ranks websites and may have an effect on the prominence of specific websites inside search results. See SEO page.
What are the ranking systems that have been retired?
Page Experience System
Google released the Page Experience System in 2021 with the intention of determining how consumers rate the experience they have while interacting with a website and using its features. It includes measurements like as loading speed, responsiveness to mobile devices, and other aspects that influence the overall experience that a user has when navigating a website.
Mobile-Friendly Ranking System
Google launched its Mobile-Friendly Ranking System in 2015 with the intention of determining how well a website is optimized for use on mobile devices. This was Google’s first attempt at implementing such a system. This technique became vital in ensuring that websites were available to all users, regardless of the device they were using, as mobile surfing grew more popular.
Page Speed System
Google first unveiled its Page Speed System in 2010, with the intention of determining how fast a website page loads after being visited. Because of the way this system worked, website owners had an incentive to make their pages load more rapidly, which resulted in an improved experience for website visitors.
Safe and Sound Sites System
Google first unveiled its Secure Sites System in 2014 with the intention of determining whether or not a website used HTTPS, a protected iteration of the HTTP protocol that encrypts data as it is sent between the website and the user. The Secure Sites System was developed by Google. This approach provided website proprietors with an incentive to place a higher priority on the security of their websites and to secure the sensitive information of their users.
What were the reasons for retiring these ranking systems?
Google has not stated a precise rationale for the retirement of these ranking methods; nonetheless, it is possible that they were regarded less relevant in the current climate of the internet. This move may be an effort to concentrate on other ranking variables, since Google’s algorithm is continuously developing to give the best possible search results for users, and it is probable that this shift is the reason for the change.
What does this imply for those who own websites?
It is possible that the removal of these ranking mechanisms will have a major influence on the degree to which certain websites appear in search results. Website owners who have previously placed a higher priority on mobile-friendliness, page speed, and security may experience a dip in their ranks, while website owners who have placed a greater emphasis on other ranking variables may see an increase in their rankings.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that Google still takes into consideration all of these aspects when ranking web pages. They will, very simply, no longer be utilized as independent rating systems going forward. Because mobile friendliness, page speed, and security are still vital components of a user-friendly website, website owners should continue to emphasize mobile friendliness, page performance, and security.
The Page Experience System, Mobile-Friendly Ranking System, Secure Sites System, and Page Speed System were all recently retired by Google, which indicates a substantial change in how websites are placed in search results. It is unknown why these ranking algorithms were discontinued; nonetheless, website owners should continue to emphasize these aspects since they are still key components of a website that is user-friendly.
