Google’s recent mobile search algorithm change, known as the “Speed Update,” reportedly shows minimal impact on search results. A study by Link Assistant analyzed the top 30 positions for 33,500 queries from a pool of 1 million web pages both before and after the update.
Link Assistant’s analysis indicated that the speed optimization of a webpage closely correlates with its ranking in search engine results. However, the update did not alter this existing correlation.
Data from Link Assistant before and after this update demonstrate that there is still no significant relationship between ranking position and FCP (First Contentful Paint) & DCL (DOM Content Loaded) metrics.
“The growth of average FCP/DCL metrics before and after the Page Speed Update has been minor: 0.030 seconds and 0.028 seconds respectively. Thus, there has hardly been any impact on search results a week after the Page Speed Update,” the report noted.
One notable change is the overall performance of web pages, assessed through Link Assistant’s optimization score.
“Improving the performance of web pages is on the rise industry-wise. For 3 months only, an average web page, ranking on positions 1-30 in mobile search, has been improved by 0.83 Optimization Score points. In other words, the standards are increasing, and the time to join the race is now,” the report stated.
While search results remain largely unaffected by the Speed Update, the optimization level of pages maintaining a top 30 rank has seen improvements.
