Summary:
In a recent incident, Google’s John Mueller was seen laughing at a LinkedIn post that suggested slowing down webpage load time to increase the time users spend on a page. The post claimed that Google uses time on website as a ranking factor and advised SEOs to deliberately slow down their sites to improve this metric. However, Google has repeatedly denied using time on website as a ranking factor, making the advice questionable.
Key Points:
- A LinkedIn post suggested that deliberately slowing down webpage load time can increase the time users spend on a page, which in turn could positively impact search engine rankings.
- The post claimed that Google uses time on website as a ranking factor, despite Google’s consistent denial of this claim.
- John Mueller, a prominent figure at Google, was seen laughing at the post on LinkedIn, indicating his disagreement with the advice.
- Google has repeatedly stated that time on website is not a direct ranking factor, and the search engine focuses on providing users with the most relevant and high-quality content.
- Slowing down webpage load time can have negative consequences, such as frustrating users and potentially leading to higher bounce rates.
- Improving user experience, providing valuable content, and optimizing website performance are more effective strategies for enhancing search engine rankings.
Hot Take:
The LinkedIn post suggesting that slowing down webpage load time can improve search engine rankings by increasing time on website seems misguided. Google has consistently denied using time on website as a ranking factor, and deliberately slowing down a site can have adverse effects on user experience. Instead, focusing on providing valuable content and optimizing website performance are more reliable ways to enhance search engine rankings.
Conclusion:
While it’s important to stay updated with SEO advice, it’s crucial to critically evaluate the information before implementing it. In this case, the LinkedIn post’s suggestion to slow down webpage load time to improve search engine rankings contradicts Google’s statements and best practices. SEOs should prioritize user experience, valuable content, and website optimization to achieve better search engine rankings.
Original article: https://www.seroundtable.com/slow-time-on-page-google-seo-35953.html