Google has announced significant updates to its Search Console, including changes to the Page Experience report and the retirement of the Mobile Usability report and related tools. These updates aim to streamline the user experience and adapt to the evolving landscape of web development and design. In this blog, we’ll explore the upcoming changes and what they mean for creators and site owners.
1. Page Experience Report Transformation:
In the coming months, Google will be transforming the Page Experience report within Search Console into a new page offering general guidance on page experience and a dashboard view of the individual Core Web Vitals and HTTPS reports. This change is intended to provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly overview of site performance metrics crucial for visitor satisfaction and search engine ranking.
2. Retirement of Mobile Usability Report & Tools:
Starting December 1, 2023, Google will retire the Search Console’s “Mobile Usability” report, the Mobile-Friendly Test tool, and the Mobile-Friendly Test API. However, mobile usability is still crucial for success with Google Search. On the contrary, as mobile device usage grows, mobile-friendliness remains an essential aspect of page experience and user satisfaction.
The decision to retire these tools comes from the numerous robust resources that have emerged over the past decade for evaluating mobile usability, including Lighthouse from Chrome. These tools often provide a more comprehensive assessment of mobile performance and can help site owners optimize their websites for the best possible user experience.
3. Impact on Creators & Site Owners:
These changes to Search Console are intended to help creators and site owners succeed with their visitors by providing an excellent page experience. By focusing on the core aspects of user satisfaction and search engine ranking, these updates will enable web developers and designers to optimize their sites more effectively.
In light of these upcoming changes, creators and site owners need to familiarize themselves with the new Page Experience report format and explore alternative tools for mobile usability testing. By staying ahead of the curve and ensuring a seamless transition to the latest tools and features, web developers can continue to provide an excellent user experience and succeed in Google Search.
Conclusion:
As the digital landscape evolves, web developers and site owners must stay up-to-date with the latest tools and best practices. The upcoming changes to Google’s Search Console aim to simplify and streamline the process of optimizing websites for both users and search engines, ultimately helping creators and site owners to achieve success. Keep an eye out for these changes in the coming months and stay informed to ensure a smooth transition and continued success in Google Search.