Google algorithm update incorporating Core Web Vitals, mobile-friendliness, HTTPS, and intrusive interstitial signals into ranking.
The Page Experience Update was Google's comprehensive algorithm change rolled out in mid-2021 that formalized user experience signals as ranking factors. This update consolidated multiple UX-related signals including Core Web Vitals (loading, interactivity, and visual stability metrics), mobile-friendliness, HTTPS security, and the absence of intrusive interstitials into a unified "page experience" signal that influences search rankings.
Unlike content-focused updates, the Page Experience Update marked Google's explicit commitment to rewarding sites that provide superior technical user experiences. The update represented a shift from purely relevance-based ranking to a model where technical performance and user-centric metrics carry measurable weight in search results.
Why It Matters for AI SEO
The Page Experience Update is particularly significant in the AI SEO era because modern AI tools and workflows must account for technical performance alongside content optimization. AI-powered SEO platforms now integrate Core Web Vitals monitoring and optimization recommendations directly into their content analysis, recognizing that even perfectly optimized content can underperform if technical user experience is poor. AI SEO practitioners must balance computational resources between content generation and technical optimization. Heavy AI-generated content sites often struggle with Core Web Vitals due to bloated code, excessive JavaScript, or poor image optimization—making technical SEO expertise essential for AI-driven strategies.
How It Works
The Page Experience Update evaluates sites using five core signals: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), mobile-friendliness, HTTPS implementation, and intrusive interstitial penalties. Sites meeting thresholds across all signals receive a page experience boost, while those failing multiple signals may see ranking decreases. Tools like PageSpeed Insights and Google Search Console's Core Web Vitals report provide field data showing how real users experience your pages. SEO platforms like Screaming Frog and GTmetrix now offer integrated Core Web Vitals analysis alongside traditional technical audits. The key is addressing issues holistically—fixing CLS problems while maintaining mobile optimization and ensuring HTTPS implementation across all pages.
Common Mistakes
Many practitioners treat Core Web Vitals as purely technical issues separate from SEO strategy, leading to quick fixes that break other optimization elements. Another common error is optimizing only for PageSpeed Insights lab data while ignoring real user metrics from Search Console, which Google actually uses for ranking. Sites also frequently optimize desktop performance while neglecting mobile experience, despite mobile-first indexing making mobile Core Web Vitals the primary ranking signal.